Man Accused In Attack On Nancy Pelosi's Husband Identified

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The man who attacked Paul Pelosi, the husband of the speaker of the House and longtime Democratic congresswoman from California Nancy Pelosi, has been identified by police as 42-year-old David Depape.

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What We Know About Paul Pelosi's Attacker, David Depape

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Paul Pelosi, 82, was violently assaulted at the couple's home in San Francisco with a hammer by a man who broke into the residence, according to the speaker's office and authorities. Paul Pelosi is at the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said at a news conference Friday morning that officers responded to the residence around 2:27 a.m. for a wellbeing check. Scott said officers saw both Paul Pelosi and the assailant holding a hammer.

The assailant pulled the hammer away and violently assaulted Paul Pelosi, Scott said. Officers tackled and disarmed the assailant before taking him into custody. He was also taken to a local hospital.

According to multiple reports, including CNN and The Associated Press, the attacker asked "Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?" when confronting her husband. Citing people familiar with the investigation, the AP reported the home was specifically targeted but in official statements, authorities say they are still looking into motive.

Nancy Pelosi was not in San Francisco at the time of the attack.

"The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time," the statement said.

The United States Capitol Police, the FBI and San Francisco Police said they were conducting a joint threat investigation.

Depape is facing multiple charges, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly open, elder abuse and other felony charges, police said.

According to The Washington Post, Paul Pelosi does not receive security protection when he is not with the speaker.

Several lawmakers weighed in to express their support for the speaker after the attack.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Twitter that President Joe Biden called Nancy Pelosi to express his support.

"The President continues to condemn all violence, and asks that the family’s desire for privacy be respected," the statement read.

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer called it a "dastardly act."

"I spoke with Speaker Pelosi earlier this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and heartfelt wishes to her husband and their family, and I wish him a speedy recovery," Schumer said.

The San Francisco residence was vandalized in January 2021 — as was the residence of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell — after the passage of a COVID relief bill that was seen as weak, The New York Times reported. The demonstrators spray-painted graffiti on the garage door of the Pacific Heights home and a pig's head was left on the sidewalk, the Times reported.

In August, Paul Pelosi pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was sentenced to five days in jail.

The attack comes less than two weeks before the 2022 midterm elections as Democrats fight to keep their majorities in the Senate and the House. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack but threats against lawmakers have become increasingly common and the search on President Trump's Florida estate over the summer put federal law enforcement agencies on alert for potential retaliation against them.

Members of Congress have received additional dollars for security at their homes, but some have pushed for more protection as people have showed up at their homes and as members have received an increasing amount of threatening communications.

In the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, rioters that broke into the building ransacked Nancy Pelosi's office and called out her name as they searched for her. Rioters stormed the building as a joint session of Congress met to count the Electoral College ballots that would officially declare Biden president.

New footage released by the Jan.6 Committee showed Nancy Pelosi and other members of Democratic leadership in undisclosed locations in the Capitol as the attack unfolded and she phoned various officials seeking help and maintained that lawmakers must find a way meet to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

"There has to be some way we can maintain the sense that people have that there is some security or some confidence that government can function and that you can elect the President of the United States," Nancy Pelosi is seen saying in the footage from a secure location.

"Do you believe this?" the speaker then remarks after being told that everybody on the floor is putting on tear gas masks to prepare for a breach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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