UPDATE (11/3/2021 @ 6:30 p.m. EST): Paul Pelosi, 82, has been released from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. The discharge comes after six days in the Intensive Care Unit and suffering a fractured skull in a vicious attack, per the New York Times.
Update (10/31/22 3:41 p.m. EST): The San Francisco Police Department released a statement regarding the attack on Paul Pelosi. They revealed in the release obtained by HollywoodLife that they were called around 2:30 a.m. and entered the home to see Pelosi and the suspect David DePape. “Officers observed Mr. Pelosi and the suspect, each with one hand on a single hammer. Moments later the suspect gained control of the hammer and violently assaulted Mr. Pelosi with it. Officers immediately tackled the suspect and disarmed him. The officers requested emergency back-up, requested parademics to the scene and began rendering medical aid to Mr. Pelosi,” the statement said. “Mr. Pelosi and Mr. DePape were then transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The statement included that he was booked for attempted homicide, first degree burglary, violent felony enhancement, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, elder abuse, inflict great bodily injury on elderly, dissuading a victim, damaging or preventing a communication for an emergency call, and threatening a public official or family member. The statement ended by mentioning that it was still an open investigation.
Police also revealed that zip ties were found at the scene, and the only people in the house were Paul Pelosi and DePape, according to NBC News. It’s not clear how many zip ties were found nor how the suspect intended to use them.
Original: Nancy Pelosi spoke out after her husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked in their San Francisco home on Friday, Oct. 28, causing him to undergo skull repair surgery. The Speaker of the House took to her Twitter the next day and shared a heartbreaking message about how she and her family are dealing with the aftermath of the home invasion, saying they are “traumatized.”
Thank you for your prayers for my husband and our family. -NP pic.twitter.com/tL8h8W0eUM
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) October 30, 2022
“Yesterday morning, a violent man broke into our family home, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband Paul,” she began. “Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop.” She went on to say Paul is “continuing to recover,” and thanked law enforcement and emergency services for their speedy response.
“Please know that the outpouring of prayers and warm wishes from so many in the Congress is a comfort to our family and is helping Paul make progress with his recovery,” Nancy continued, before referencing a line from the Book of Isiah. She then thanked her followers for their prayers and the work they do to “strengthen our Democracy.”
Nancy’s message follows her husband Paul undergoing “successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” according to a statement from the California Democrat’s spokesperson. The injuries were sustained when an attacker illegally entered the Pelosi home early Friday afternoon and attacked Paul with a hammer.
The suspect — who police identified as 42-year-old David DePape — attacked Paul with the hammer in front of officers after they arrived for a “wellbeing check” at around 2:30 am local time, according to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott. “[DePape] pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it,” Scott said at a news conference. DePape was searching for Nancy herself, as reports claim he was shouting, “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?” The politician was not home at the time.
DePape will be charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, and “several other additional felonies,” per Scott. The motive for the attack is still being determined.
President Joe Biden weighed in on the attack during the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Reception at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Saturday. “This is despicable. There’s no place in America. There’s too much violence, political violence, too much hatred, too much vitriol,” Biden said. “Enough is enough is enough! Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against the violence in our politics regardless what your politics are.”