What you need to know about Pelosi’s attack on her husband

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A man broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home in San Francisco and viciously beat her 82-year-old husband Paul Pelosi with a hammer early Friday morning while Democrats were in Washington.

Paul Pelosi has undergone surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hand, and his doctors are expecting a full recovery.

David Depapu, 42, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, elder abuse and robbery, police said.

“This was not a random act. This was intentional. It’s wrong,” said San Francisco Police Chief William Scott.

Violence was the latest shock to an increasingly divided political system torn by extremism.

Let’s take a look at what is known about the attack and suspects.

What happened?

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Friday, an intruder with a hammer broke into the Pelosi mansion in San Francisco through the back door. “Where’s Nancy?” the man yelled at Paul Pelosi, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Paul Pelosi called 911 himself and found him wrestling with the assailant when police arrived. Police said the man hit Pelosi at least once with a hammer before he was subdued and arrested by officers.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time of the attack.

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How’s Paul Pelosi doing?

He underwent surgery to repair a fractured skull and serious injuries to his right arm and hand, and his doctors are expecting a full recovery.

Nancy Pelosi arrived in San Francisco late Friday. Her convoy was seen arriving at the hospital where her husband was being treated.

The couple have been married since 1963.

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What are investigators saying?

San Francisco Police Chief Scott said the attack was not a random act.

Police did not immediately confirm a motive, but three people familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press that the perpetrators targeted Pelosi’s home.

The FBI and Capitol Police are also part of the joint investigation.

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Who are the suspects?

DePape was scheduled to be charged next week with attempted murder, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse, and robbery. After his arrest, he was taken to a hospital where he remained as of Friday night.

DePape frequently posts on social media, making racist and rambling comments, including questioning the 2020 election results, defending former President Donald Trump, and repeating QAnon conspiracy theories. I often did.

A 20-year resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, he was known locally as a pro-nudity activist who picketed himself naked in protest against laws requiring him to wear clothes in public.

He grew up in Powell River, British Columbia and followed an older girlfriend to California. He has three children with his two women. His stepfather, Jean DePape, said the suspect lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and was a quiet boy.

“He was withdrawn,” Jean Depape said. “He was never violent.”

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Were other MPs threatened?

Nearly two years after the U.S. Capitol riots, Trump supporters broke into the building and searched for Pelosi and other members of Congress. Since then, threats to lawmakers and their families have increased exponentially.

US Capitol Police investigated nearly 10,000 threats against members last year. That’s more than double what she was four years ago.

Lawmakers have called for increased security for families and homes, especially outside of Washington. Security officials have pledged to pay for certain security system upgrades and an increase in the Capitol Police force in Washington’s suburbs. But most of the members are mostly independent.

The attack on Paul Pelosi occurred while Nancy Pelosi was out of town. That is, the house had very few guards.