San Francisco police offered clarifying information after statements made on Friday stirred speculation that there was an unknown third person in the house when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s (D-CA) husband, Paul, was attacked.
The department told NBC News there were only two people in the home at the time of the break-in: Paul Pelosi and the suspect, 42-year-old David DePape, who is facing charges of attempted murder, elder abuse, and burglary after allegedly attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer.
TWITTER ERUPTS AS ELON MUSK SHARES CONSPIRACY THEORY ON PELOSI HOME BREAK-IN
After San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott offered details on the incident on Friday, Politico reported that when officers arrived at the house, they “knocked on the front door and were let inside by an unknown person.” This excerpt, which was shared on social media, led to speculation that there may have been a third party.
MORE: The SFPD also says that there were only TWO people inside the Pelosi home (Paul Pelosi and DePape) when they responded, clarifying statements made at Friday’s press conference which seemed to indicate there was a third person inside the home who opened the door. (2/2)
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) October 30, 2022
Tom Winter, NBC News correspondent for investigations, also reported on Sunday that San Francisco Police told his news outlet that Pelosi and DePape did not know each other prior to the assault. This comes after the disclosure of a police audio clip, following a 911 call in which Paul Pelosi spoke in code, in which the dispatcher told a police car that a caller did not know the man but advised “his name is David and then [said] he is a friend.” The dispatcher, Heather Grimes, also noted the caller “sounded somewhat confused,” per the Los Angeles Times.
San Francisco Police, who were performing a well-being check, witnessed the suspect attack Paul Pelosi with a hammer early Friday morning, according to Police Chief William Scott.
Paul Pelosi, who is 82, “was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where he underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s spokesperson said in a statement. He is expected to make a full recovery, the statement added.
U.S. Capitol Police are working with the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department to investigate the incident. There has been an outpouring of support from lawmakers of both parties in response to the attack.
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Authorities said they believe DePape broke in through the back door. Although they have not stated a suspected motive, Scott said, “This was not a random act. This was intentional. And it’s wrong.”
Still, journalists have dug into online posts believed to be from DePape, some of which reference the QAnon conspiracy theory and more. DePape had a bag containing zip ties, among other things, insider sources told CNN.
The assailant shouted, “Where is Nancy?” after breaking into the couple’s home, according to the Associated Press. The House speaker was in Washington, D.C., with a protective detail at the time.
Nancy Pelosi, who rushed back to San Francisco to be with her husband afterward, released an open letter to colleagues Saturday night, noting, “Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop.”
