A Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) staffer who was stabbed multiple times is recovering from a serious stab wound to the head as well as other more minor wounds. 

Phillip Todd is in the hospital after the attack on Saturday, his uncle Tim Todd confirmed.

"Doctors are concerned about possible seizures for the next month resulting from the deep knife wound to the head," Tim Todd wrote. "Phillip is resting well."

The man arrested for stabbing Todd, Glynn Neal, was released from prison one day before the attack after serving five years. Neal had been sentenced to 12 years for forcing two women into prostitution.

Paul responds

Paul's office released a statement on the attack on Monday.

“This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington, D.C.," Paul said. "I ask you to join Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery, and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions. We are relieved to hear the suspect has been arrested. At this time we would ask for privacy so everyone can focus on healing and recovery.”

The attack comes one month after Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) was attacked in the elevator of her Washington apartment building.

Crime has increased in Washington, D.C. in recent years, and the city council has just made it worse.

Devastating cuts

In 2021, the council cut $15 million from the law enforcement budget in the name of "racial justice," which has led to fewer police officers in the city.

In November 2022, the District of Columbia’s Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 was passed, which cut sentencing recommendations drastically for a number of violent crimes in the city, like carjacking.

This law was putting more criminals back on the street, but Congress and President Joe Biden moved to block it earlier this month, passing a law to block the Washington, D.C. law and reverse it using their authority under the Constitution to rule on laws in Washington.

Before the law was blocked, the council tried to withdraw it, so it obviously understands the public pressure against it's attempted reforms.

Democrats too soft on crime

Some of the impetus for the actions is a perception by the public that Democrats are now too soft on crime, which hurt them in the 2022 midterm elections.

Biden's and congressional Democrats' actions with the D.C. bill show that the pendulum is swinging back toward reasonable policies on crime, at least for now.