Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was “violently assaulted” by a man who broke into his San Francisco home early Friday, according to her spokesperson.
The suspect, 42-year-old David Depape, attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer when officers responded to a priority well-being check at 2:27 a.m. local time, San Francisco police said. Officers tackled the suspect and disarmed him, police said.
Paul Pelosi, 82, underwent “successful” surgery Friday to repair a skull fracture and “serious injuries” to his right arm and hands, and his doctors “expect a full recovery,” the speaker’s spokesperson, Drew Hammill, said in a statement. Two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News his injuries are “significant.”
FBI agents work outside the home of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi where her husband Paul Pelosi was violently assaulted after a break-in at their house, according to a statement from her office, in San Francisco, Oct. 28, 2022.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Depape allegedly entered the house through a sliding glass door, law enforcement sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The suspect shouted “Where’s Nancy?” before allegedly striking Paul Pelosi, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., with her protective detail at the time, according to the Capitol Police.
House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi with her husband Paul Pelosi attend mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome, June 29, 2022.
LightRocket via Getty Images, FILE
Depape, who was hospitalized with injuries, will be booked on charges including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and elderly abuse, police said.
The motive is under investigation, Hammill said.
But according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank dedicated to researching extremism and disinformation, Depape “likely was motivated by a wide range of conspiratorial beliefs.”
“In the last two months, DePape has posted dozens of articles and videos to his blogs spreading conspiracies and hateful rhetoric related to COVID-19, women, Hillary Clinton, the Jewish community, federal law enforcement (e.g., FBI), government censorship, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the climate crisis, QAnon, the 2020 election, the transgender community, and ‘grooming’ in schools,” the ISD said, though no posts were found specifically mentioning Nancy Pelosi.
Authorities are examining a number of social media posts that appear to be associated with Depape which espouse conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines, 2020 false election theories, frustration with the Jan. 6 congressional hearings and anger over the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd, law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The FBI is expected to seek search warrants for any phones, computers or other devices that might be associated with Depape, the officials said. FBI agents were also interviewing people who know Depape across the Bay area on Friday, according to federal law enforcement sources.
A screen grab taken from video shows damage to the home of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her husband Paul Pelosi was violently assaulted during a break-in at their house in San Francisco, Oct. 28, 2022.
KGO
President Joe Biden spoke with Nancy Pelosi Friday morning “to express his support after this horrible attack,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Vice President Kamala Harris told ABC News’ Allison Pecorin that she also spoke with the speaker this morning. She condemned what she called an “act of extreme violence.”
“I think we’re looking at it at a time in our country where there is so much discourse that is fueled by hate and division. And anyone who professes to be a leader I think has to really understand the meaning and the impact of their words,” Harris said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement, “What happened to Paul Pelosi was a dastardly act. I spoke with Speaker Pelosi earlier this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and heartfelt wishes to her husband and their family, and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted that he’s “horrified and disgusted” by the attack, adding, “Grateful to hear that Paul is on track to make a full recovery.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy reached out to Nancy Pelosi to “check in on Paul and said he’s praying for a full recovery,” according to his spokesperson.
Hammill said, “The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time.”
ABC News’ Trish Turner, Pierre Thomas, Rachel Scott, Josh Margolin, Alex Stone and Molly Nagle contributed to this report.
