{O/C} {Good evening}
We begin tonight with the dramatic assault on the husband of the U.S. House Speaker at their San Francisco residence early Friday.
82-year-old Paul Pelosi was mercilessly attacked with a hammer as the intruder feverishly searched for House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
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Sources close to the initial investigation say the hammer-wielding suspect, forty-two-year-old David DePape, broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco residence at around 2:27 in the morning, ranting, "Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?"
That's eerily reminiscent of the January 6 insurrection where rioters called out the Speaker.
Paul Pelosi was alone as the suspect tried to tie him up, savagely beat him and struck him in the head with a hammer.
Then, Paul Pelosi called 911.
The intruder reportedly told arriving officers, "We are waiting for Nancy."
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WILLIAM SCOTT, San Francisco Police Department Chief:
Our officers observed Mr. Pelosi and the suspect both holding a hammer. The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it.
Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency back-up and rendered medical aid.
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The 82-year-old wealthy investor married House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 1963.
At the time of the attack, the House Speaker was in Washington with her security detail.
A spokesperon for Nancy Pelosi said in a statement, Paul Pelosi had undergone a successful surgery to treat a skull fracture and grievous bodily injuries, and is expecting a full recovery.
The front windows of their residence were smashed in the attack.
While police are trying to establish a motive, the police chief insists, the attack was not random.
42-year-old Depape will be facing multiple felony charges, including attempted homicide.
Depaper reportedly made racist and incendiary remarks online, questioning the results of the 2020 presidential election and defending former President Donald Trump.
The atrocious assault drew a barrage of condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.
The most fiery criticism hailed from President Joe Biden, who swiftly called the House Speaker with support.
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JOE BIDEN, U.S. President:
This is despicable.
There's no place in America. Too much violence, political violence. Too much hatred. Too much vitriol.
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The House Speaker has arrived at a hospital in San Francisco where her wounded husband is recovering.
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