Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Hospitalized After Brutal Break-in Attack

Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi, was hospitalized Friday after an intruder broke into their San Francisco home and severely beat him with a hammer.

Summary

Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi, was hospitalized Friday after an intruder broke into their San Francisco home and severely beat him with a hammer.

• The assailant broke into their home in search of the House Speaker, repeatedly shouting “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?” The San Francisco police chief told reporters, “This was not a random act. This was intentional. And it’s wrong.”
• Police arrested the assailant, identified as David DePape, 42, and charged him on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, battery, and burglary, among other felony charges.
• DePape broke into the home using a back entrance and apparently held Paul Pelosi hostage until Pelosi told the assailant he needed to use the bathroom and then dialed 911. Police arrived to witness DePape and Pelosi struggling over a hammer before DePape violently attacked Pelosi.
• Paul Pelosi sustained serious injuries in the attack. The 82-year-old underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and “serious injuries to right arm and hands.” He is expected to make a full recovery.
• While police have not disclosed a motive behind the attack, the assailant appears to have been immersed in a number of conspiracy theories and known to be a part of a Bay Area group of nudist activists.
• President Joe Biden called the attack “despicable” and, without evidence, linked the attack to conspiracy theories about widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election promulgated by prominent Republicans.
• The attack on Paul Pelosi comes as threats against lawmakers are on the rise. Capitol Police opened 9,625 inquiries into threats against members of Congress in 2021, a roughly 144 percent increase from 2017.

• Axios reported the attack left lawmakers shaken and worried about their personal security and their families’ security. Rep. Debbie Dingell told Axios, “Somebody is going to die.” Most lawmakers don’t have security details and some have urged a legislative response to the attack.
• The Washington Post linked the attack on Pelosi’s husband to years of negative Republican advertising targeting the speaker, even as the assailant’s motivations remain unclear at this point.
• The New York Times noted this was not the first time the Pelosi home became a crime scene. In January 2021, their residence was vandalized with graffiti and a severed pig’s head was left on the sidewalk.

• The Washington Examiner reported DePape appears to have posted multiple times referencing  the QAnon conspiracy in the days and weeks leading up to the attack. DePape did not, however, post about either the Speaker or her husband.
• Fox News pointed out the Northern District of San Francisco, where the Pelosi’s reside, has seen a nearly 30 percent increase in assaults in 2022 compared to the same time period last year.
• The Wall Street Journal noted the security details provided for members of Congress like Speaker Pelosi travel with the member of Congress. Instead, lawmakers often rely on local law enforcement to protect their families when they are away from home.

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© Dominic Moore, 2022