Attacker was looking for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when he broke into her house and hit husband with hammer | US News

Police say an intruder broke into the home of Nancy Pelosi and her husband in search of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

The attacker broke into the couple’s home in San Francisco through the back door around 2:30 a.m. Friday, armed with a hammer.

Sheriff William Scott said officers were called to the home for a “health check” and arrived to find both men wielding hammers.

The suspect then pulled the hammer from Mr. Pelosi and used it to “violently attack” him, before being tackled by police officers.

At some point, the suspect shouted “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?”, NBC News reported.

David Depape, 42, was named a suspect by police.

He will be charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and “several other felonies,” the sheriff said.

Mr Pelosi, who owns a venture capital and real estate firm based in San Francisco, was taken to hospital, where he was “expected to make a full recovery”, said spokesman Drew Hammill said.

‘Bad action’

Ms. Pelosi, the Democratic speaker in the US House of Representatives and second in line to the presidency, was in Washington DC at the time, having just returned from a security summit in Europe.

If she were at home, her security details would be present but Mr. Pelosi does not qualify for this protection on her own.

“What happened to Paul Pelosi was an act of cowardice,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

“I spoke with Speaker Pelosi early this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and sincerest wishes to her husband and their family, and I wish him a speedy recovery. serve.”

‘The President is praying’

“The President is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi’s entire family,” the White House said in a statement.

“This morning, he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support in the wake of this horrific attack.

“He is also delighted as he is expected to make a full recovery.”

The attack is being investigated by San Francisco police, Capitol Police and the FBI.

It comes amid growing concern for the safety of US politicians nearly two years after the January 2021 Capitol uprising.

Last year, the Capitol Police investigated about 9,600 threats against members of Congress.