California: An intruder attacked husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer after breaking into their California home, police said leaving him needing hospital treatment.

US media reported that intruder shouted “Where’s Nancy?” during attack suggesting that his motivation was political but San Francisco police chief Bill Scott said a motive had not yet been determined. Police said officers found assailant at couple’s home just before 2:30 am (0930 GMT), where he and Paul Pelosi were scuffling over a hammer. Speaker, who is second in line to presidency, was in Washington at time. “When officers arrived on scene they encountered an adult male and Mrs. Pelosi’s husband, Paul,” Chief Scott told reporters, declining to take questions.

“Our officers observed Pelosi and a suspect both holding a hammer. Suspect pulled hammer away from Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it.” Chief identified assailant as 42-year-old David Depape and said he would be charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and other felonies. Nancy Pelosi’s spokesman Drew Hammill said in a statement that Speaker’s 82-year-old husband was “receiving excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery.” President Joe Biden called Pelosi also 82 to express his support over “horrible attack” and was praying for her husband, White House said.

“He is very glad that a full recovery is expected. President continues to condemn all violence and asks that family’s desire for privacy be respected,” Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 29 2022

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