Indian-American Trump Appointee Harmeet Dhillon Escapes Attempted Mugging Near White House

Last Updated:August 13, 2025, 23:34 IST

Harmeet Kaur Dhillon currently holds the position of Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the US Department of Justice.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon gestures while attending a meeting of the Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias Task Force, at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Indian-American Trump appointee Harmeet Dhillon, serving as the Assistant Attorney General for the US Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, reported an attempted phone theft in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. Dhillon recounted the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing the assailant as a “malodorous homeless person" who tried to swipe her phone while she was walking back to the DOJ from an appointment. She noted that the individual appeared to be “not in his right mind," and she managed to evade the attempt. Dhillon reassured her followers by stating, “I’m ok, nothing happened."

The attempted theft occurred near the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, close to the White House and popular tourist areas.

Dhillon mentioned that several other homeless and mentally fragile individuals were present in the vicinity. She urged the public to remain vigilant, stating, “It’ll be a while till things feel safe in this city, so everyone stay alert!"

This incident comes amid President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to address crime in the nation’s capital.

On Monday, President Trump announced plans to federalize the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department and deploy the National Guard to combat the rising crime rates. A memorandum directs the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the D.C. National Guard to active service as deemed necessary. An executive order also mandates the Mayor of DC to provide the services of the Metropolitan Police force for federal purposes for the maximum period permitted under section 740 of the Home Rule Act.

As of Wednesday morning, law enforcement officials had arrested 103 individuals since August 7, with 43 arrests made on Tuesday alone. The crackdown is part of Trump’s initiative to restore safety and order in Washington, DC.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

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Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 13, 2025, 23:34 IST

News world Indian-American Trump Appointee Harmeet Dhillon Escapes Attempted Mugging Near White House

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