US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that her family was “heartbroken and traumatized” after her husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked and severely beaten by an assailant with a hammer at their residence in San Francisco on Friday.
“Sadly, a violent man broke into our family home yesterday morning, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband Paul,” the Speaker said in a statement on said Saturday night.
“Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop,” she added. “We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving,”
Pelosi, 82, suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation into the attack who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe.
An internet user with the same name as the suspect arrested at the scene, David Depape, voiced support for former President Donald Trump. Democrats have also claimed that the suspect is a supporter of Trump.
Terrorism and extremism experts believe the violent attack could be an example of the growing threat of so-called stochastic terrorism, in which occasionally individuals are inspired to violence by hate speech and scenarios they see online and hear preached by public figures.
Paul Pelosi underwent surgery for a skull fracture and other injuries.
“Please know that your prayers and warm wishes are a comfort to our family and helping Paul make progress with his recovery,” she said in the statement. “His condition continues to improve.”
Both far-right and far-left-leaning political websites and figures have been demonizing online and in public Pelosi for some time. Graphics depicting her being beheaded, and a call to send immigrants to her home, with her address, circulated online this summer, according to Site Intelligence Group, which researches online extremism.
Progressive Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said that the United States is "facing an environment of fascism" similar to the days of Jim Crow in the leadup to the 2022 midterms which Democrats are likely to lose to Republicans.
Federal officials at the Department of Homeland Security and FBI have warned of a "heightened threat" ahead of the midterm elections charged by violent extremism, CBS News reported
What they're saying: “We are really truly facing an environment of fascism in the United States of America. This type of intimidation at the polls brings us to Jim Crow,” Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told MSNBC on Friday about reports of intimidation at Arizona ballot boxes.
US authorities released a bulletin on Friday that said domestic violent extremists pose a threat of violence for the 2022 midterms and the days after.
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