Paul Pelosi, husband of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, remains in the ICU following a violent attack inside the couple’s San Francisco home just before 2:30 AM Friday. Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery following a “successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” according to Nancy Pelosi’s spokesperson Drew Hammill.
Pelosi’s attacker has been identified as 42-year-old David Depape of Berkeley, California. At the time he broke into the Pelosi home, the Speaker was in Washington, D.C.
After Depape broke into the home, Paul Pelosi was able to call police for help. When San Francisco Police entered, they witnessed Depape strike the 82-year-old Pelosi with a hammer. Depape has been charged with assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official. This appears to be a politically-motivated attack.
“Depape articulated he viewed Nancy [Pelosi] as the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party,” according to an FBI affidavit. He believed “he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender” and wished to make an example out of Speaker Pelosi for the other members of Congress to see.
According to the affidavit, he brought zip ties, a roll of tape, white rope, one hammer, one pair of rubber and cloth gloves, and a journal to the scene.
Depape’s internet and social media footprints show he was an antisemite and conspiracy theorist who posted about Q Anon, vaccines, white victimization and the 2020 presidential election, which he believed was stolen from Donald Trump.
The Speaker flew to San Francisco last week to be by her husband’s side. She said she is "heartbroken and traumatized."
Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement after the attack:
“This heinous assault is yet another example of the dangerous consequences of the divisive and hateful rhetoric that is putting lives at risk and undermining our very democracy and Democratic institutions. Those who are using their platforms to incite violence must be held to account.
“Our leaders should never fear for their safety and the safety of their families in serving the people they were elected to represent – not in their homes, not at the U.S. Capitol, not anywhere. Jennifer and I wish Paul a speedy recovery and send our thoughts to Speaker Pelosi and their family during this time.”
In the aftermath of the attack on Paul Pelosi, conspiracy theories have been spreading online, suggesting Depape was a friend or possible lover of Paul Pelosi. Police and the FBI have debunked those claims and say the two did not know each other.