The husband of U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi is recovering from critical accidents in hospital after being “violently assaulted” within the couple’s San Francisco residence early Friday morning.
The Related Press and CNN reported the suspect, recognized by police as 42-year-old David DePape, beforehand lived in Canada earlier than shifting to California over 20 years in the past.
Gene DePape, who the Related Press recognized because the suspect’s stepfather, was quoted by the wire service as saying the suspect lived with him in Canada till he was 14 and was a quiet boy.
“He was reclusive,” mentioned Gene DePape, including, “He was by no means violent.”
International Information briefly spoke to Gene DePape, who would solely say he had not been involved with David since 2003.
In keeping with the Related Press, he mentioned he had tried to get in contact along with his stepson a number of occasions over time with out success.
CNN, who additionally reported having spoken to Gene DePape and different relations, mentioned the household was based mostly in Powell River, B.C.
Melissa DePape, who lives in Powell River, advised International Information David DePape is her husband’s cousin, however mentioned she had by no means met the suspect. She mentioned her husband had not seen or spoken to David in over 20 years.
San Francisco Police declined to touch upon David DePape’s citizenship, citing California sanctuary legal guidelines. The FBI additionally wouldn’t present particulars to International Information.
The RCMP and Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino’s workplace have but to answer requests for remark from International Information despatched Friday afternoon.
San Francisco Police recognized David DePape because the suspect within the assault on Paul Pelosi and mentioned he could be charged with tried homicide, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse and different fees.
The allegations in opposition to DePape haven’t but been confirmed in courtroom.
Police Chief William Scott advised reporters officers arrived on the Pelosi residence round 2:30 a.m. PT to search out Paul Pelosi and an intruder each holding a hammer. The intruder then yanked it from Pelosi and commenced beating him earlier than being subdued and arrested by officers.
Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., on the time of the assault.
Sources advised the Related Press and different shops that the intruder was looking for the Democratic chief, shouting “The place is Nancy, the place is Nancy?” earlier than assaulting Paul Pelosi — a chilling reminder of a few of the chants heard throughout the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
“This was not a random act,” Scott advised reporters throughout a follow-up media look Friday night time. “This was intentional. And it’s fallacious.”
The 82-year-old was severely overwhelmed, struggling blunt pressure trauma after he was struck a number of occasions within the head, police mentioned.
He was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco Normal Hospital the place he underwent surgical procedure for a cranium fracture and accidents to his arms and palms, based on an announcement from Nancy Pelosi’s workplace.
“His medical doctors anticipate a full restoration,” spokesperson Drew Hammill mentioned.
U.S. Capitol Police, tasked with defending congressional leaders, mentioned Nancy Pelosi was along with her protecting element in Washington on the time her husband was attacked.
She’d simply returned this week from a safety convention in Europe and is because of keynote an advocacy occasion Saturday night in Washington with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Authorities have been nonetheless investigating a motive for the predawn assault, which was witnessed and interrupted by law enforcement officials dispatched to the Pelosi residence for an “A-priority wellbeing examine,” Scott advised reporters.
Current posts on a number of web websites by a person named “daviddepape” embody references to anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, QAnon, criticism of ladies, “satanic pedophilia,” censorship by tech corporations, and different far-right political themes. Older messages promote quartz crystals and hemp bracelets.
Reuters couldn’t affirm that the posts have been made by the suspect.
It was unclear how the intruder obtained into the three-story purple brick townhouse within the prosperous Pacific Heights neighborhood. Aerial pictures confirmed shattered glass on a door on the rear of the home. Streets across the residence have been closed off on Friday morning.
Typically at Nancy Pelosi’s facet throughout formal occasions in Washington, Paul Pelosi is a rich investor who largely stays on the West Coast. They’ve 5 grownup kids and lots of grandchildren. The 2 have been married 59 years.
Earlier this 12 months, Paul Pelosi pleaded responsible to misdemeanor driving below the affect fees associated to a Might crash in California’s wine nation and was sentenced to 5 days in jail and three years of probation.
U.S. President Joe Biden and lawmakers from each events reacted to the assault with shock and expressed their nicely needs to the Pelosi household.
“What occurred to Paul Pelosi was a dastardly act,” mentioned Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “I spoke with Speaker Pelosi earlier this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and heartfelt needs to her husband and their household, and I want him a speedy restoration.”
“We now have been to many occasions with the Pelosis during the last 2 a long time and we’ve had numerous events to speak about each of our households and the challenges of being a part of a political household. Interested by the Pelosi household as we speak,” tweeted Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned that President Joe Biden has additionally been involved with Nancy Pelosi.
“The President is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi’s complete household,” Jean-Pierre mentioned.
“This morning he known as Speaker Pelosi to precise his assist after this horrible assault. He’s additionally very glad {that a} full restoration is predicted. The president continues to sentence all violence, and asks that the household’s want for privateness be revered.”
The Pelosi residence within the rich Pacific Heights neighborhood has been the scene of a number of protests up to now few years. After Nancy Pelosi was seen on video getting her hair achieved at a salon whereas many have been shut down throughout the coronavirus pandemic, stylists protested outdoors with curling irons.
Members of the Chinese language neighborhood protested outdoors not too long ago earlier than Pelosi’s journey to Taiwan. And through debates over the federal stimulus package deal protesters scrawled anarchy indicators in black paint throughout the storage door, together with “cancel lease,” and “we wish all the things.”
Home Republican Chief Kevin McCarthy additionally mentioned he reached out to Pelosi, whereas Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell mentioned he was “horrified and disgusted” by the assault.
New York Metropolis police warned on Thursday that extremists may goal politicians, political occasions and polling websites forward of the midterm elections on Nov. 8.
Republicans have been campaigning on issues about violent crime, in addition to inflation and different quality-of-life points. San Francisco’s crime fee in 2021 was 1.5 occasions the nationwide common, based on a number of crime-tracking web sites.
As a Democratic chief in Washington and a longtime consultant from one in every of America’s most liberal cities, Pelosi, 82, is a frequent goal of Republican criticism and is commonly featured in assault advertisements.
Her workplace was ransacked throughout the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Republican then-President Donald Trump, a few of whom hunted for her throughout the assault whereas calling out her identify within the hallways.
In January 2021, her residence was vandalized with graffiti messages saying “Cancel lease” and “We wish all the things” painted on the home and a pig’s head left in entrance of the storage, based on media studies.
McConnell’s residence additionally was vandalized round that point.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one in every of two Republicans on the Home Jan. 6 panel, condemned the rise of incendiary marketing campaign rhetoric vilifying political opponents and selling falsehoods about widespread voter fraud.
“Once you persuade those that politicians are rigging elections, drink infants blood, and many others, you’ll get violence. This should be rejected,” he wrote on Twitter, calling on Republican candidates and elected officers to “converse out, and now.”
In a politically polarized local weather, threats in opposition to Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been on the rise. Capitol Police mentioned they investigated 9,625 incidents in 2021, practically a threefold enhance from 2017.
— with recordsdata from International’s Simon Little and Amanda Connolly, the Related Press and Reuters.
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