The husband of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was seriously injured in a hammer attack when the assailant entered through a back door of their luxurious home in the upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, shouting, "Where is Nancy?" At that time, Nancy Pelosi was thousands of miles away in Washington, D.C., protected by her security detail, while her 82-year-old husband, Paul Pelosi, was alone at home.
By the time officers arrived after being dispatched at 2:27 AM on Friday, they found the attacker and Paul Pelosi struggling for control of the hammer. William Scott, the chief of the San Francisco Police Department, stated that the assailant pulled the hammer away and "violently" attacked Paul Pelosi with it in front of the officers.
As leaders across the political spectrum rushed to condemn the attack, Paul Pelosi underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and other injuries. He remained in a San Francisco hospital on Friday afternoon, according to Nancy Pelosi's office.
While the police stated they were still investigating the motive and interrogating the suspect in custody, this incident heightened concerns about political violence erupting less than two weeks before the U.S. midterm elections. The attack occurred amid increased threats and violence against political figures in America, particularly following the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, which placed House Speaker Pelosi and other lawmakers and Republican Vice President near rioters who threatened their lives.
