Joe Biden has described the violent assault on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband as “despicable” – as San Francisco’s police chief has stated it was “not a random attack”.
Paul Pelosi, 82, is recovering from a cranium fracture after he was attacked by an intruder with a hammer on Friday.
The intruder broke into the couple’s residence in San Francisco at round 2.30am, reportedly in search of the US House Speaker.
Police stated officers have been referred to as to the home for a “wellbeing check” and arrived to search out each males holding the hammer.
The suspect then pulled the hammer away from Mr Pelosi and used it to “violently assault” him, earlier than being tackled by law enforcement officials.
At some level, the suspect looked for the Democratic chief shouting, “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?”
‘Despicable’
The US president sharply condemned the assault on Mr Pelosi and drew parallels between the assault on the House speaker’s husband and the US Capitol riots.
Speaking at an occasion in Philadelphia on Friday night, he stated he had earlier spoken to Mrs Pelosi and he or she reported that her husband was in “good spirits”.
He went on to handle studies that the assailant had repeated the “same chant” heard through the 6 January 2021 riots.
“The chant was: ‘Where’s Nancy?'” Mr Biden stated, calling it “despicable.”
“There’s too much violence, political violence,” the president added, suggesting that election denialism and claims that COVID-19 was a “hoax” had eroded the political local weather.
“Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against the violence in our politics, regardless of what your politics are,” he stated.
‘Not a random act’
Meanwhile, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott informed a information convention that the assault on Mr Pelosi at their San Francisco residence was “intentional”.
He stated: “This was not a random act. This was intentional. And it’s wrong.”
Mr Scott declined to remark additional on a potential motive for the assault and stated the investigation was ongoing.
Mr Pelosi was rushed to hospital and underwent surgical procedure for a cranium fracture and extreme accidents to his proper arm and fingers, a spokesperson stated.
He is predicted to make a full restoration.
David Depape, 42, has been named by police as a suspect, and he was arrested on the scene.
He has been charged with tried murder, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse, housebreaking and a number of other different felony fees.
His motive has not but been made clear.
Mrs Pelosi’s spokesperson, Drew Hammill, stated her husband had been attacked “by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the Speaker”.
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‘Dastardly act’
Mrs Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, and second-in-line to the presidency, was in Washington DC on the time, having lately returned from a safety summit in Europe.
Had she been at residence, her safety element would have been current however Mr Pelosi will not be eligible for this safety on his personal.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated in a press release: “What happened to Paul Pelosi was a dastardly act.
“I spoke with Speaker Pelosi earlier this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and heartfelt needs to her husband and their household, and I want him a speedy restoration.”
After the assault, the White House launched a press release saying “the president is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi’s whole family”, including he was “very glad” a full restoration was anticipated.
The assault is being investigated by San Francisco police, Capitol Police and the FBI.
It comes amid rising concern concerning the security of America’s politicians virtually two years after the Capitol riot in January 2021, when Mrs Pelosi’s workplace was ransacked.
Last yr, Capitol Police investigated round 9,600 threats made in opposition to members of Congress from each events – practically a threefold improve since 2017.
Source: information.sky.com”