House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi, attend a Holy Mass led by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica in June.
Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
A man broke into Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home early Friday and attacked her husband.
Pelosi was not home at the time, and her husband was “violently assaulted,” police said.
Paul Pelosi, 82, was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
A man broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco, California, home early Friday morning and “violently” attacked her husband with a hammer, sending him to the hospital, authorities said.
Paul Pelosi, 82, was attacked during the break-in at the couple’s home in the Pacific Heights neighborhood just before 2:30 a.m., while Speaker Pelosi was in Washington, DC with her protective detail, said authorities.
The suspect — who was arrested and identified by police as 42-year-old David Depape — beat Paul Pelosi with a hammer in front of cops as they arrived at the home, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told reporters.
Paul Pelosi was hospitalized with blunt force trauma to his head and body, according to The Associated Press. The House speaker’s office said that he is “expected to make a full recovery.”
“Early this morning, an assailant broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and violently assaulted Mr. Pelosi,” the House speaker’s office said in a statement Friday morning.
“The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time,” the statement said.
Later Friday afternoon, the House Speaker’s office said Paul Pelosi underwent a successful surgery to repair a skull fracture he sustained in the attack and was also treated for “serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” per a press release.
The attacker, who police said was also taken to the hospital, was reportedly searching for Nancy Pelosi when he broke into the couple’s residence.
He reportedly shouted “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?” at Paul Pelosi.
CNN reported that the attacker also tried to tie Pelosi up, saying he was waiting for the speaker.
“The motive for this attack is still being determined,” Scott said during a press briefing.
When officers responded to the Pelosi home early Friday for a “well-being check” they saw the attacker and Paul Pelosi holding a hammer, Scott said.
“The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it,” Scott said, adding that cops “immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid.”
Depape will be booked at the San Francisco County Jail on a slew of charges including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and burglary, Scott said.
The US Capitol Police said it was assisting the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department in the investigation. Special agents with USCP’s California Field Office quickly responded to the scene at the time of the break-in, the agency said.
USCP, tasked with protecting lawmakers, has opened field offices around the country amid a record number of threats to lawmakers.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Friday that President Joe Biden was “praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi’s whole family.”
“This morning he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack,” Jean-Pierre said. “He is also very glad that a full recovery is expected. The President continues to condemn all violence, and asks that the family’s desire for privacy be respected.”
The Pelosi’s home was previously targeted by vandals in January 2021. Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home was also vandalized.
The safety of lawmakers and their families has taken on renewed importance in Washington following the January 6 Capitol riot and the 2017 congressional baseball practice shooting that left House Minority Whip Steve Scalise with life-threatening injuries.
Republican lawmakers at the practice were only protected by Capitol Police officers who were there due to Scalise’s presence. Before the practice shooting, then-Rep. Gabby Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and 18 others were shot during a 2011 event at a local grocery store. Six people were killed, including a federal judge and one of Giffords’ staffers.
The Pelosi’s wed in 1963 and have five children together. Nancy Pelosi has represented San Francisco for decades in the House, rising to become Speaker, the second in line to the presidency, twice.
Paul Pelosi, a venture capitalist, has been in the news frequently this year due to his voluminous stock trades.
His status hung over negotiations over whether both members of Congress and their spouses would be subject to a ban on trading shares in individual companies.
Earlier this summer, he was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty to driving under the influence before crashing his car.