The wife of Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., was abducted at knifepoint Tuesday morning from her home in suburban Virginia but was released unharmed, said police and spokesmen for the senator.
POLICE SAID Kathleen Gregg, 52, arrived at her house about 9:30 a.m. ET to find two men, one white, one black, waiting inside. One drew a knife and demanded cash, said Jacqi Smith, a spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Police Department.
The black man then drove her to a nearby Wachovia Bank branch, while the other followed in another car, police said. The black man and Gregg went inside and asked to withdraw money. The man took the undisclosed amount of money from the teller and fled the bank, police said. He got into a silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Virginia tags ADB-9712, being driven by the white man. The two headed north on state Route 123, police said.
Fairfax County police Sgt. Jeff Gossett said the senator’s wife was unharmed.
Fairfax County police described the white man as in his early 20s, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with a slender build, wearing a blue sweat shirt. The black man was described as in his mid-20s, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a stocky build. He was wearing a leather hat and a dark jacket.
No arrests had been made.
Gossett said the tellers were not aware of any problem as Kathleen Gregg asked to withdraw money from her account. Gosset said police have no reason to believe she was targeted because she was the senator’s wife. He said he did not know where the senator was at the time.
Gossett said it was similar to a robbery that happened in the county last week, but police have not confirmed whether the two incidents were connected. It’s “very bold. It’s very brazen,” he said.
The bank is in the heart of a busy suburban shopping district about five miles from Gregg’s house.
“This morning, Kathy Gregg was a victim of a violent robbery. Her life was threatened and it was a terrifying experience,” said a statement from Gregg’s Senate office.
“Thanks to quick decisions made by Mrs. Gregg, she is doing fine and out of harm’s way,” it said. “This is an ongoing police investigation, so we have no further comment at this time.”
Agents from the FBI’s Washington field office are assisting Fairfax County police, a spokeswoman said. She had no other details.
The Greggs recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They have two daughters and a son.
In 2001, President Bush named Kathleen Gregg one of six appointees of the Student Loan Marketing Association, the largest U.S. lender for students. At the time, she was listed as a board member of Saphikon Inc., a supplier for use in semiconductor manufacturing. She also served on the New Hampshire Task Force on Child Neglect and Abuse.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.