The US official said the attacker had broken into her California home looking for Nancy Pelosi.
San Francisco:
An intruder who attacked the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer, breaking his skull, broke into their California home on Friday in search of him.
Pelosi’s spokesman, Drew Hamill, said Paul Pelosi was “attacked at home by an assailant who acted with force, and put his life in danger while demanding to see the speaker.”
82-year-old Paul Pelosi – who had surgery and is recovering in hospital – was alone at home as his wife was working in Washington.
San Francisco police said officers found the attacker just before 2:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) at the couple’s home, where he and Paul Pelosi were scuffled with a hammer.
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott told reporters: “The suspect pulled a hammer from Mr. Pelosi and violently attacked him.”
He named the attacker as 42-year-old David Deppe, but declined to be questioned and gave little more details.
US media, citing family sources, said the intruder told Paul Pelosi that he would tie her up and wait for the speaker to come home.
According to an account given to cable network MSNBC, the victim managed to dial 911 while the man was distracted.
Local media previously reported that the intruder was shouting “Where’s Nancy?” But police told reporters that a motive has not yet been determined.
Scott said Deppe would be charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and other felony counts.
“Mr Pelosi was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where he underwent successful surgery to repair his skull fracture and severe injuries to his right arm and hands,” the speaker’s spokesman said.
“His doctors expect a full recovery.”
Nancy Pelosi – who is second in line to the presidency – and the couple’s five children were reported to have returned to San Francisco.
The White House said President Joe Biden also called on the 82-year-old Democrat to express his support over the “horrific attack” and was praying for her husband.
Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said in a statement: “He is … very pleased to be in full recovery. The president condemns all violence, and asks that the family’s desire for privacy be respected. should be respected.”
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The Wall Street Journal, citing unidentified law enforcement officials, reported that the intruder entered through a sliding glass door, inflicting wounds on his head and body.
He has taken to extreme right-wing positions on social media, including conspiracy theories about Covid-19, an official told the daily.
With less than two weeks to go before the crucial US midterm election, members of both parties have sounded the alarm about the potential for political violence.
Threats against lawmakers have more than doubled from 2017 to nearly 10,000 in 2021, according to Capitol Police in Washington.
Members of both parties rallied on social media to support Pelosi, with many suggesting the attack was the inevitable result of an increase in violent political rhetoric.
Adam Kizinger, a Republican member of the House committee investigating the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, blamed conspiracy theories spread by Donald Trump and his far-right followers to radicalize some supporters.
He said of Friday’s attack, “I want to be clear: When you convince people that politicians are rigging elections, drinking the blood of children, you will get violence. It should be rejected.”
Republican House Whip Steve Scalis said he was “disgusted” by the attack.
Paul Pelosi was convicted of drunken driving after an accident in May and sentenced to five days in prison.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)