Nancy Pelosi Speaks For The First Time About Attack On Husband , Telling Supporters ‘We Have To Be Optimistic’

Topline

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi broke her silence on the attack on her husband Paul Pelosi, telling supporters during a private virtual meeting: “it’s going to be a long haul, but he will be well,” Punchbowl reported, citing a recording of the meeting.

Key Facts

Pelosi thanked supporters for their prayers and well wishes for Paul Pelosi, who was sent home from the hospital on Thursday, six days after he was attacked by an assailant who allegedly told police he broke into the couple’s San Francisco home in search of the speaker.

Pelosi, calling the attack “tragic,” reportedly said “nonetheless, we have to be optimistic,” adding that her husband is “surrounded by family.”

Paul Pelosi, 82, underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his hands and right arm, the speaker’s office said in a previous statement, after David DePape, 42, beat him with a hammer and apparently knocked him unconscious, according to police.

Tangent

Pelosi also spoke about the upcoming midterms, reportedly telling the group she believes “this race is very winnable,” a prediction that defies polls and forecasts that show Republicans are likely to win both chambers. The speaker estimated she traveled to “21 states” in October, some of them more than once, and saw “enthusiasm . . . determination” and “courage” from Democratic candidates. Acknowledging that Republicans have “cut [Democrats’] lead in some cases,” she attributed their gains to fundraising pushes. As inflation remains a top concern among voters, Pelosi sought to downplay the issue by casting it as a “global phenomenon” that is worse in the United Kingdom and Europe, according to Punchbowl. She also boosted Democrats’ record in working to control rising prices, while claiming “tax cuts to the wealthiest people in the country” is the GOP’s only solution.

Key Background

DePape, who is being held without bail, was charged with two federal offenses this week: assaulting the family member of a federal official, a charge that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, and attempted kidnapping of a federal official, which has a maximum sentence of 30 years. He pleaded not guilty to a separate set of state charges on Tuesday, including attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official. After allegedly breaking into the Pelosis’ home yelling “Where’s Nancy,” DePape told police he wanted to break the speaker’s “knee caps” to set an example for other Congress members. Reviews of his social media accounts and blog postings revealed he was engulfed in conspiracies about the 2020 election, the Covid-19 pandemic and unfounded racist QAnon-backed theories. Friends and family members reportedly said DePape, a Canadian citizen, appeared mentally out of touch in recent years and was often under the influence of drugs. Federal immigration officials on Wednesday said he was living in the U.S. illegally on an expired visa and could face deportation proceedings after the conclusion of his criminal cases.

Big Number

88. That’s the percentage of Americans who said they are either somewhat or very concerned about political violence in the wake of the Paul Pelosi attack, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Friday.

Further Reading

Paul Pelosi Underwent Surgery After Alleged Hammer Attack At Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Home (Forbes)

Paul Pelosi Attacker Identified — Allegedly Entered Home With Hammer Asking ‘Where Is Nancy?’ (Forbes)

Paul Pelosi’s Alleged Attacker’s Facebook Page Filled With 2020 Election Conspiracies, Reports Say (Forbes)

Pelosi Attacker: QAnon And White Supremacist Ideas Linked To Alleged Assailant (Forbes)

State And Federal Charges Announced Against Paul Pelosi Attack Suspect (Forbes)

Trump Calls Paul Pelosi Attack ‘Terrible’—And Joins Other GOP Figures In Linking Assault To Crime Trends (Forbes)