House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) on Saturday said she and her family are “heartbroken and traumatized” after a man broke into her San Francisco home and attacked her 82-year-old husband with a hammer.
“Yesterday morning, a violent man broke into our family home, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband Paul,” Pelosi wrote in a “Dear Colleague” letter to members of Congress. “Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop. We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services, and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving.”
Pelosi wrote that her husband’s “condition continues to improve.” He underwent “successful surgery” for a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hand, a spokesman for the speaker said Friday.
“Please know that the outpouring of prayers and warm wishes from so many in the Congress is a comfort to our family and is helping Paul make progress with his recovery,” Nancy Pelosi wrote in her letter.
She added: “We are also comforted by the words of the Book of Isaiah: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'”
A man broke into the couple’s home early Friday morning and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer. Authorities have identified the suspect as David Wayne DePape, a 42-year-old man who appears to have a history of affiliations with nudists and conspiracy theorists.
DePape faces charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and other felonies in connection with the attack.
DePape appeared to have been searching for the House speaker. Before attacking Paul Pelosi, DePape shouted, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”
Police were dispatched to the home around 2:27 a.m. for “a priority well-being check.” Upon arrival, authorities found DePape and Pelosi “both holding a hammer.”
“The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it,” Bill Scott, chief of the San Francisco Police Department, told reporters on Friday.
Officers then tackled the assailant and took him into custody. He is facing attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, and burglary charges, Scott said, adding there will be “several other additional felonies.”
Nancy Pelosi was not in San Francisco during the attack, according to reports.