In a letter to congressional colleagues Saturday evening, Nancy Pelosi stated her husband’s situation “continues to improve.”
SAN FRANCISCO — A man broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s residence in San Francisco and severely beat her 82-year-old husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer early Friday whereas the Democratic lawmaker was in Washington.
Paul Pelosi had surgical procedure to restore a cranium fracture and severe accidents to his proper arm and fingers, and his docs anticipate a full restoration, the speaker’s workplace stated. In a letter to congressional colleagues Saturday night, Nancy Pelosi said her husband’s condition “continues to improve.”
David DePape, 42, was arrested on suspicion of tried homicide, elder abuse and housebreaking, police stated.
“This was not a random act. This was intentional. And it’s wrong,” San Francisco Police Chief William Scott stated.
The violence was the latest jolt to an more and more splintered political system that’s riven with extremism.
A have a look at what is thought in regards to the assault and the suspect:
WHAT HAPPENED?
An intruder wielding a hammer smashed his approach by means of a rear door into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco shortly earlier than 2:30 a.m. Friday. The man confronted Paul Pelosi and shouted, “Where is Nancy,” in accordance to an individual conversant in the state of affairs who was granted anonymity to focus on it.
Paul Pelosi referred to as 911 himself and when police arrived they discovered him combating the assailant. The man managed to strike Pelosi at the least as soon as with the hammer earlier than he was tackled by officers and arrested, police stated.
Nancy Pelosi was in Washington on the time of the assault.
HOW’S PAUL PELOSI DOING?
He underwent surgical procedure to restore a cranium fracture and severe accidents to his proper arm and fingers, and his docs anticipate a full restoration, the speaker’s workplace stated Friday. Other than Nancy Pelosi’s letter to colleagues, there have been no updates on his situation Saturday.
Nancy Pelosi arrived in San Francisco late Friday. The couple has been married since 1963.
In her letter, the speaker thanked colleagues for his or her prayers and heat needs. “Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop,” she wrote. “We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services, and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving.”
WHAT ARE INVESTIGATORS SAYING?
Scott, the San Francisco police chief, stated the assault was not a random act. “This was intentional,” he stated.
Police did not instantly verify a motive, however three individuals with data of the investigation instructed The Associated Press that the assailant focused Pelosi’s residence.
The FBI and Capitol Police are additionally a part of the joint investigation.
WHO IS THE SUSPECT?
DePape was anticipated to be charged subsequent week with tried murder, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse and housebreaking. After his arrest, he was taken to a hospital, the place he remained as of Friday night.
DePape posted often on social media, usually making racist and rambling feedback that included questioning the outcomes of the 2020 election, defending former President Donald Trump and echoing QAnon conspiracy theories.
A two-decade resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, he was recognized regionally as a pro-nudity activist who had picketed bare at protests towards legal guidelines requiring individuals to be clothed in public.
He grew up in Powell River, British Columbia, earlier than following an older girlfriend to California. He has three kids with two ladies. Stepfather Gene DePape stated the suspect had lived with him in Canada till he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.
“He was reclusive,” stated Gene DePape. “He was never violent.”
RELATED: Man arrested for assaulting Paul Pelosi had made racist, rambling posts on-line
HAVE OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BEEN THREATENED?
It’s been nearly two years because the riot on the U.S. Capitol, when Trump supporters broke into the constructing and hunted for Pelosi and different members of Congress. Since then, threats to lawmakers and their households have elevated sharply.
The U.S. Capitol Police investigated nearly 10,000 threats to members final 12 months, greater than twice the quantity from 4 years earlier.
Lawmakers have pressed for higher safety, particularly for his or her households and their houses outdoors of Washington. Security officers have promised to pay for upgrades to sure safety methods and an elevated Capitol Police presence outdoors Washington. But the overwhelming majority of members are totally on their very own.
The assault on Paul Pelosi occurred when Nancy Pelosi was out of city, which meant there was much less of a safety presence of their residence.
RELATED: ‘This was not a random act’: Intruder assaults Pelosi’s husband, calling, ‘Where is Nancy’
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