House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave an update on her husband, Paul Pelosi, on Saturday after an intruder attacked him in the couple's home on Friday. The police also offered an update on the attacker, who they say has a history of supporting conspiracy theories.
In an update to House members on Saturday, Nancy Pelosi shared that her family has been left "heartbroken and traumatized" by the attack. Still, her husband was improving at the hospital.
The speaker shared she was grateful for the response from first responders in her letter to her colleagues.
"Yesterday morning, a violent man broke into our family home, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband Paul," she wrote in the letter. "Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop."
San Francisco police haven't shared much from their investigation into the home invasion, but they have announced charges for the suspect.
David DePape, 42, is facing charges of attempted murder, attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, and other felonies after he broke into the home and assaulted Paul Pelosi, ending in the two fighting over a hammer.
When officers entered the home, that's where they found the two locked in a fight for the weapon until police ordered them to release it. Paul Pelosi then dropped his grip on the hammer, and DePaPe struck him in the head with it, police said.
Paul Pelosi has been receiving medical attention at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital since the attack. According to a statement from Nancy Pelosi's office, the 82-year-old "underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands."
"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," the speaker shared in her letter.
According to a family member who spoke with NBC News, the attacker was allegedly looking for the House Speaker, but after she wasn't there, he tried to tie up Paul Pelosi, saying they would await the speaker's return.
A source briefed on the incident shared with CNN that in his backpack were zip-ties and several other items, and as he went through the house, he was yelling, "Where's Nancy?"
It was at that moment that Paul Pelosi contacted the police as he was distracted.
Bill Scott, the Chief of the San Francisco Police Department, shared that Paul Pelosi said close to nothing on his call with the 911 dispatcher, but she was still able to tell something wrong was happening. Scott praised the dispatcher for her work.
"Her actions, in my opinion resulted in both a higher priority dispatch and a faster police response," he said. "I think this was life saving."
Police have shared that they believe the home invasion was intentional, but they do not yet know the motive behind DePape's attack. The investigation remains ongoing.
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