Earlier on Friday, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attacked her husband with a hammer after an attacker broke into her California home, officials said in a search for the Democratic leader.
Congressman Drew Hammill said the attacker “wanted to see the Speaker of the House” and “threatens to kill him”.
Police said the assailant and Paul Pelosi wrestled over a hammer when officers arrived at the victim’s home in San Francisco shortly before 2:30 a.m.
“Our agents observed that Mr. Pelosi and a suspect were both holding a hammer. The suspect took the hammer from Mr. Pelosi and beat him violently with it,” said the San Francisco Police Commander, “which damaged his skull and body,” Bill Scott said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is second in line to the presidency of the country, was in Washington at the time. Scott revealed the shooter was 42-year-old David Depape and said he would be charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and other crimes.
Although the commander said he could not yet explain the alleged motive for the crime, “it was deliberate. Everyone should find what happened this morning disgusting,” he said.
Before the White House condemned the “heinous” attack on its way to Philadelphia, US President Joe Biden urged Nancy Pelosi to express support for the “terrible attack”.
The president said less than two weeks remained until the country’s midterm elections, known as the “midterms,” said there was “no room” for political violence in the United States. “Enough,” he added.
‘Mad’
The American press reported, citing Pelosi family sources, that the intruder told Paul that he would tie himself up and wait for Nancy to return home. According to cable TV network MSNBC, the victim managed to call emergency services while the man was distracted.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the thief entered the home through a sliding glass door, citing police officers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
One of the officials told the broadcast that the attacker was showing far-right ideals on social media, including conspiracy theories about covid-19.
Drew Hammill reported that 82-year-old Paulo Pelosi was “receiving excellent medical care and should be fully recovered”. The suspect was also taken to the hospital.
The attack came in a troubled year for Pelosi’s husband, who was convicted and sentenced to five days in prison after an accident in May.
In the midst of the election campaign in the United States, members of the Democratic and Republican parties are warning against violence in the context of elections.
Threats to lawmakers have more than doubled since 2017, reaching more than 9,000 a year, according to Capitol Police.
Members of both parties expressed their support for Pelosi on social media, with many arguing that the attack was a result of the growing rhetoric of violence in political discourse.
Adam Kinzinger, a Republican member of the House of Representatives committee investigating the January 2021 Capitol Hill raid, has blamed conspiracy theories spread by Donald Trump and his far-right supporters.
“I want to be clear: when you convince people that politicians are rigging elections, drinking babies’ blood, etc., there will be violence. We have to reject that,” he said.
In addition to Kinzinger, House Republican caucus leader Steve Scalise said he was “outraged” by the attack.
source: Noticias
