Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, attacked with hammer in home break-in
Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was injured Friday after a person broke into the couple’s home in San Francisco and attacked him with a hammer, Chief William “Bill” Scott said.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old David Depape, was taken into custody after officers were dispatched for a well-being check at the home just before 2:30 a.m. At a news conference, Scott said officers found Depape and Paul Pelosi at the house, with both men holding on to a hammer.
“The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it,” Scott said. “Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid.”
The chief said Depape, who was taken to a hospital Friday, will face charges including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and burglary.
“The motive for this attack is still being determined,” he said.
In an updated news conference Friday evening, Scott said the attack on Paul Pelosi was intentional and Paul Pelosi was struck at least once.
“This act was not random. This was intentional and it’s wrong. Our elected officials are here to do the business of the cities, the counties, the states and this nation. The families don’t sign up for this,” Scott said.
Nancy Pelosi’s spokesperson, Drew Hammill, said the House speaker was not in San Francisco at the time of the break-in. He added that Paul Pelosi was at a hospital Friday and “expected to make a full recovery.”
“The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time,” he said.
Hammill released a statement stating that Paul Pelosi had a successful surgery.
“Earlier this morning, Paul Pelosi was attacked at home by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the Speaker. “Mr. Pelosi was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where he underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. His doctors expect a full recovery,” Hammill said in the statement.
An unidentified source briefed on the investigation told The Washington Post that the assailant shouted, “Where is Nancy?” during the attack. Police did not immediately confirm the account.
The Associated Press reported that Paul Pelosi was “severely beaten” and suffered blunt force injuries. He was undergoing brain surgery at San Francisco General Hospital on Friday, KNTV reported.
San Francisco police have launched a joint investigation into the attack with the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police.
FBI released a statement Friday afternoon stating that they will provide updated statements when more information is available.
“FBI San Francisco is participating in a joint investigation into the attack on Paul Pelosi at his home early this morning in San Francisco with the San Francisco Police Department the U.S. Capitol Police.”
#FBI Statement regarding the attack on Paul Pelosi. We continue to investigate this incident in partnership with @CapitolPolice and @SFPD. We will post updated statements here as more information becomes publicly available. pic.twitter.com/hjetKKneu4
— FBI SanFrancisco (@FBISanFrancisco) October 28, 2022
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden “is 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. “The President continues to condemn all violence, and asks that the family’s desire for privacy be respected.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called the attack “horrific” in a statement posted on Twitter. He said he and his wife were praying for the Pelosi family.
“We can have our political differences, but violence is always wrong (and) unacceptable,” he added.
Paul and Nancy Pelosi have been married since 1963. The couple has five children and nine grandchildren.
Photos: Rep. Nancy Pelosi through the year
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) puts her hand on a Bible held by her grandchildren Alexander Prowda (bottom L) and Liam Kenneally (bottom R) as she is sworn in as the House Democratic Whip, at the Statuary Hall of the Capitol February 06, 2002 in Washington, DC. Pelosi became the highest-ranking woman ever in the U.S. Congress. Her husband Paul is at (L). (Photo by Manny Ceneta/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 19: Paul Pelosi (L) and Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attend the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Bridge Dedication Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers November 19, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 09: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive for the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Comedy at the Kennedy Center on November 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. Tina Fey, creator of the television show 30 Rock, is the recipient of this year’s prize. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – JUNE 7: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive at the White House June 7, 2011 in Washington, DC. Guests arrived to attend a state dinner being held by the Obama’s for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. This is the first official visit by a European leader to the White House since Obama became president. Merkel will be presented with the 2010 Medal of Freedom at a state dinner tonight. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 18: Paul Pelosi (L) and US House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi attend Tony Bennett’s 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at The Metropolitan Opera House on September 18, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Bennett)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 04: Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi and Jon Bon Jovi attend the 6Th Annual Exploring the Arts Gala hosted by Tony Bennett And Susan Benedetto at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Exploring The Arts)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 21: Congresswoman Nancy and her husband, Paul Pelosi are interviewed during the New York premiere of the HBO documentary Fall to Grace at Time Warner Center Screening Room on March 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 07: Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi walk the red carpet during the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 03: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pictured with her husband, Paul Pelosi, on Capitol Hill on January 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. Under the cloud of a partial federal government shutdown, Pelosi reclaimed her former title as speaker and her fellow Democrats took control of the House of Representatives for the second time in eight years. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive in the Crypt of the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony to be the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today’s inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. (Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 16: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (2nd R) and her husband Paul Pelosi (C) arrive for a reception honoring Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva Mitsotakis in the East Room of the White House on May 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Mitsotakis for bilateral meetings earlier in the day where they talked about allied efforts to "support the people of Ukraine and impose economic costs on Russia for its unprovoked aggression," according to the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 16: Paul Pelosi, husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), arrives for a reception honoring Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva Mitsotakis in the East Room of the White House on May 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Mitsotakis for bilateral meetings earlier in the day where they talked about allied efforts to "support the people of Ukraine and impose economic costs on Russia for its unprovoked aggression," according to the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
