On Friday, a crazed man broke into Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco house, and beat her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer, while the Speaker was in Washington, DC.

Paul Pelosi, 82, sustained severe injuries to his skull, hands, and right arm in the fight with the assailant. Police took him to the hospital, where he underwent a surgical procedure to repair a fracture to his skull, and he is expected to recover fully, according to his doctors.

The suspect, later identified as David DePape, 42, was taken into custody by the police. He is facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and elder abuse.

William Scott, San Francisco Police Chief, said that the attack was intentional, not random. The Speaker herself was probably the intended target. DePape had repeatedly screamed, “Where’s Nancy?”

At around 2:20 am on Friday, DePape smashed a rear door in Pelosi’s home and gained access to the San Francisco house. Sources familiar with the incident said that the intruder confronted Paul Pelosi, asking him where Nancy Pelosi was. He proceeded to the upstairs bedroom where the 82-year-old had been sleeping. They also pointed out that DePape tried to tie up Mr. Pelosi and had a bag that contained multiple zip ties, and duct tape, according to information from sources, obtained by CNN. The hammer used in the attack was brought by the attacker. 

Pelosi was able to call 911 before the attack and keep the line open until law enforcement arrived. San Francisco Police Department Officers arrived at the home at around 2:27 am local time and found Mr. Pelosi and the assailant struggling with a hammer. DePape struck Pelosi on the head with the hammer at least once before police officers tackled and arrested him.

Police Chief Scott said that when the officers arrived, they stood at the doorway and commanded both men to let go of the hammer. DePape, however, pulled the hammer from Pelosi and struck him with it, prompting officers to enter the room immediately and disarm him.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, DC during the attack and traveled back to San Francisco later that Friday.

In her first public statement addressing the attack, Speaker Pelosi said that the attack on her husband devastated her, her grandchildren, and her children. She also thanked law enforcement and the medical personnel for providing life-saving services to her husband.

Although authorities did not provide a motive for the attack, the police said that the attack was intentional. The fact that he called for Nancy Pelosi indicated that he targeted Pelosi’s home.

Police Chief Scott confirmed that the San Francisco Police Department was working with the FBI and the Capitol Police to investigate the incident.

DePape, who has lived in San Francisco for more than twenty years, frequently posted on his social media pages about the 2020 elections and echoed former President Trump’s sentiments that the election was rigged. He also posted racist comments and QAnon conspiracy theories.

Law enforcement is contemplating charging DePape with 18 USC 115, which states that it is a federal crime to attack, kidnap or kill a family member of specific federal officials.

Threats to legislators and their families have increased considerably since the January 6 Capitol Hill attack by Trump supporters. Last year, the Capitol Police investigated thousands of threats to members of Congress, the highest number in four years.