Nancy Pelosi responds to violent assault on her husband

In her first public assertion concerning the brutal assault on her husband — wherein she was the meant goal — Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi advised her congressional colleagues that she and her household have been “heartbroken and traumatized” by Friday’s occasions.

“Our kids, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening assault on our Pop,” Pelosi mentioned within the assertion, which was addressed to members of the U.S. Home of Representatives. “We’re grateful for the short response of legislation enforcement and emergency providers, and for the lifesaving medical care he’s receiving.”

Early Friday, an intruder broke into the Pelosis’ hillside house in San Francisco’s unique Pacific Heights neighborhood.

Authorities mentioned David DePape, 42, attacked 82-year-old Paul Pelosi with a hammer after shouting, “The place is Nancy?” a number of instances. Police arrived on the scene after being alerted by a name from Paul Pelosi, who managed to hide the decision from his attacker.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington on the time however has since returned to California to be together with her husband, in keeping with information experiences.

The Home speaker referred briefly to the attacker in her assertion.

“Yesterday morning, a violent man broke into our household house, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband, Paul,” Pelosi mentioned.

Pelosi additionally thanked those that expressed concern and sympathy.

“Please know that the outpouring of prayers and heat needs from so many within the Congress is a consolation to our household and helps Paul make progress along with his restoration,” she mentioned. “His situation continues to enhance.”

In her assertion, Pelosi quoted from the Bible:

“We’re additionally comforted by the phrases of the E book of Isaiah: ‘Don’t worry, for I’m with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I’m your God. I’ll strengthen you and enable you to. I’ll uphold you with my righteous proper hand.’”

In line with official accounts, Paul Pelosi advised the intruder he had to make use of the lavatory, then made a surreptitious 911 name on his cellphone and left the road open. Dispatcher Heather Grives may hear Pelosi speaking to his attacker and alerted officers to the scene.

At a information convention Friday, San Francisco Police Chief Invoice Scott praised Grives’ fast pondering, on condition that Pelosi was unable to explain the gravity of the state of affairs as a result of the intruder was shut at hand.

“She needed to interpret what she was being advised,” Scott mentioned on the information convention. “And based mostly on her expertise and instinct, she principally found out that there was one thing extra to this incident than what she was being advised.”

Police arrived on the Pelosi residence about two minutes after being alerted by the dispatcher.

When officers knocked on the entrance door, Scott mentioned, somebody inside opened it. The officers noticed Paul Pelosi struggling along with his attacker, “every with one hand on a single hammer,” he mentioned.

After officers ordered each males to drop the hammer, the attacker “instantly” pulled the software from Pelosi and “violently attacked him with the hammer,” Scott mentioned.

Police tackled the assailant, grabbed the hammer and took him into custody earlier than calling for backup and starting first help.

A supply who was briefed on the assault mentioned the assailant confronted Paul Pelosi and shouted, “The place is Nancy? The place is Nancy?” earlier than the assault occurred.

DePape was booked Friday afternoon on suspicion of tried homicide, first-degree housebreaking, assault with a lethal weapon, threatening a member of the family of a public official, elder abuse, battery with critical bodily harm, dissuading a witness and injuring a wi-fi system.

The assault is being seen as proof that the rising tide of harsh political rhetoric is escalating into violence.

A Instances overview of DePape’s on-line accounts signifies he had been drifting into the world of far-right conspiracies, antisemitism and hate.

In a private weblog that DePape maintained, posts embody such subjects as “Manipulation of Historical past,” “Holohoax” and “It’s OK to be white.” He talked about 4chan, a favourite message board of the far proper. He posted movies about conspiracies involving COVID-19 vaccines and about baseless claims that the conflict in Ukraine is a ploy for Jewish individuals to purchase land.

Amongst DePape’s screeds have been posts about QAnon, an unfounded principle that former President Trump is at conflict with a cabal of Devil-worshipping elites who run a toddler intercourse ring and management the world.

Paul Pelosi is recovering from surgical procedure at Zuckerberg San Francisco Normal Hospital “to restore a cranium fracture and critical accidents to his proper arm and fingers,” mentioned Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi’s workplace. He’s anticipated to make a full restoration.