HARTFORD, Conn — A Connecticut lawmaker who was attacked last month while leaving a Muslim prayer service accused police in Hartford of downplaying the assault and called Thursday for a federal investigation of the department's handling of violent crimes, especially against women.
Rep. Maryam Khan, the first Muslim member of the Connecticut House, wore a sling on her right arm at a news conference and was surrounded by friends, family and fellow state legislators as she gave a harrowing account of her ordeal.
“My body went numb and I thought I was going to die,” Khan said, recalling the assault. “He slammed my body into the ground, threw me. I felt nothing, but I shot up and I ran for my life.”
She called the attack much more violent and shocking than how it was described in a police report.
Khan said she was later diagnosed with a concussion and is now awaiting an MRI after losing feeling in her right arm and shoulder. She recalled having to convince emergency responders at the scene she was physically injured and emotionally traumatized.
“All I keep thinking in these last few days is what happens to women in the city of Hartford that call the police when they are assaulted, when they experience what I experienced, when they experience sexual assault, when they experience physical assault,” she said in the appearance at the Legislative Office Building.
“Because if this is what’s happening to me and this is the best we can do, as a state representative who represents the city of Hartford, I cannot be okay with that. I’m not okay with that,” she said.
Khan, a Democrat, lives in the Hartford suburb of Windsor. Her legislative district includes Windsor and a part of Hartford, Connecticut's capital.
Khan described how she and her family were taking photos June 28 outside the XL Center in downtown Hartford, where the prayer service was held. She said a man approached and said he made inappropriate remarks.
“He made comments stating that he intended to have sexual relations with someone, one of us, and he looked at each one of us including my 15-year-old daughter and my 10-year-old daughter,” said Khan.
The man then followed them inside and Khan said he started to pursue her in particular, grabbing at her face and shirt and demanding a kiss. Khan said the man followed her back outside and tried to grab her face again, but became angry when she “dodged him” and slapped her across the face.
“He got angry and he slapped me across my face on my right cheek," she continued. "He followed me he held me back in a chokehold. He had his hand in the shape of a gun."
The Associated Press doesn’t generally identify people who report attempted sexual assaults unless they publicly identify themselves, as Khan has done.
Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody released a statement following Khan's comments:
"What Representative Khan experienced is awful, and I am so sorry for her and her family. We take the assault against Representative Khan very seriously, and the investigation was immediately assigned to both our Intelligence Division and to the Major Crimes Division. Our detectives have supplemented the initial report with additional information and context, all of which is being shared with the state’s attorney.
We will review every aspect of our response and we always want to get better and do better, and we take seriously the importance of responding not just as the law requires, but to ensure that we are working with partners to support victims in every way possible. We are continuing to investigate this assault thoroughly and we are working closely with the state’s attorney.
“We have received many requests for body camera video and other videos. Our policy is always to release as much information as possible, including video and body camera footage, and we are prepared to release as much as the law allows and Representative Khan requests.”
The department originally said Khan suffered “minor injuries" after a man, who made lewd comments and tried to kiss her, slapped her face and let go of her neck, causing her to fall to the ground. Khan noted the police report did not mention how her children were present for the attack or that she was a Muslim marking Eid al-Adha, the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin also made a statement:
“Nobody should have to go through what Representative Khan and her family have gone through, and I’m deeply sorry for what happened to her. Today is her day to tell her story as she experienced it, and I just want to respect that. We take transparency very seriously, we welcome any inquiries and reviews, and we will release as much information and footage as we can and as Representative Khan requests.”
She said her family regularly attends the annual prayer service at the XL Center, an arena in downtown Hartford, which drew roughly 4,000 people to the June 28 gathering.
The suspect, Andrey Desmond, 30, who was chased down and held by two bystanders, was held in lieu of a $250,000 bond at his arraignment last week on charges including misdemeanor assault, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and interfering with police. Authorities have said he could still face additional charges.
Emails were sent Wednesday and Thursday seeking comment from Desmond’s public defender, but there was no immediate response.
Khan won a special election for her seat in March 2022, at the time calling her victory in a three-way race a “huge honor” and saying she hoped to be an influence for girls.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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