Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon reported an attempted robbery while walking to the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.
Dhillon described the suspect as a homeless man who appeared mentally unstable and said he tried to take her phone.
JUST IN: Homeless Person Tries to Rob Harmeet Dhillon in DC https://t.co/8HIC1pMaeM
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) August 12, 2025
Earlier that day, Dhillon had been speaking with The Gateway Pundit’s White House Correspondent Jordan Conradson near the White House when the same man harassed them and demanded Dhillon’s water bottle.
Shortly after that encounter, Dhillon said the man made an attempt to grab her phone as she walked from an appointment back to the DOJ.
“A malodorous homeless person attempted to swipe my phone today while I was walking in DC back to the DOJ from an appointment — but he was not in his right mind and I artfully dodged the attempt,” Dhillon said in a statement.
“It’ll be a while till things feel safe in this city, so everyone stay alert!”
Dhillon also posted about the incident on X, reiterating that the suspect appeared mentally unwell.
A malodorous homeless person attempted to swipe my phone today while I was walking in DC back to the DOJ from an appointment — but he was not in his right mind and I artfully dodged the attempt.
It’ll be a while till things feel safe in this city, so everyone stay alert!
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) August 12, 2025
The attempted robbery occurred as President Donald Trump has taken unprecedented steps to address crime in the nation’s capital.
On Monday, Trump announced that he was invoking Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.
Section 740 allows the President to assume control of the Metropolitan Police Department under “special conditions of an emergency nature.”
Trump also signed a Presidential memorandum authorizing the Secretary of Defense to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., and allowing state governors to use their own National Guard units in their jurisdictions.
The President’s actions came after a series of violent incidents in the city, including an attack on DOGE worker Edward Coristine, known as “Big Balls,” who was severely beaten by multiple assailants.
Trump stated the measures were necessary to restore order and protect public safety.
“We will bring in the military if it’s needed,” Trump told reporters.
As required under Section 740, Trump sent notification letters to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and relevant congressional committee leaders, allowing for the federalization of the police force beyond the initial 48-hour period.
The President said these steps were part of a broader effort to reduce crime and address public safety concerns in the city.
