Lauren C. Moye, FISM News
While Paul Pelosi, husband to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, is recovering from surgery to repair his skull after a violent attack on Friday, Democrats and Republicans have used the incident to trade jabs with each other over who is at fault for the attack.
“The motive for this attack is still being determined,” said San Fransico Police Chief William Scott at a press briefing on the day of the attack. Scott added that it was not “a random act.”
Despite these statements, Democrat politicians have seized the opportunity to smear Republicans, particularly the MAGA Republican crowd, as inciting violence against a political opponent.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) blamed known Trump-supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), stating, “You called for Nancy Pelosi to be executed. You said she should be hung for treason.”
Former first lady and presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, also jumped in on the action saying the Republican party “regularly spreads hate and deranged conspiracy theories,” while sharing a picture of the accused attacker, David DePape.
The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories. It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result. As citizens, we must hold them accountable for their words and the actions that follow.https://t.co/MQor4NDFeE
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 29, 2022
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki blamed Donald Trump directly for creating an atmosphere of political violence. She said it was important to remember public officials like Pelosi and her husband “live under threat, under harassment (often directed by the former president) and they still do it to serve the American people.”
“You know, it’s reported that the same chant was used by this guy they have in custody that was on January 6th in the attack on the U.S. Capitol,” said President Joe Biden about the incident while speaking at a Pennsylvania Democratic Party Reception on Friday, calling the act “despicable.”
The attacker, David DePane, was heard on the 911 call asking, “Where’s Nancy?”
Biden then took it one step further, blaming talk about stolen elections and COVID-19 being a hoax as emboldening people to commit violence.
Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, have offered condolences and largely have advocated for the assailant to be prosecuted to the “fullest extent of the law.”
This is an outrage and our hearts are with the entire Pelosi family. We pray Paul will make a full recovery. There can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families. This man should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law https://t.co/3mJ8xmGmbT
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 28, 2022
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called the attack “wrong” and condemned all political violence.
Greene apparently antagonized McGovern by saying that the rampant violence and crime in “Joe Biden’s America” shouldn’t “happen to Paul Pelosi” or any other political leader. Greene called for funding and support for police to “end the deadly nationwide crime.”
Like Greene, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel blamed the attack on soft-on-crime policies that have been utilized in Democrat-run cities. She said to Fox News, “If this weren’t Paul Pelosi, this criminal would probably be out on the street tomorrow … This is what Democrat policies are bringing.”
She also rejected that saying “fire Pelosi” or “take back the House” meant Republicans were encouraging violence.
DePape entered the Pelosis residence on Friday around 2:30 a.m. local time. Pelosi called 911, where he both claimed that he did not know the intruder but also identified him as “David” and “a friend.”
DePape had zip ties on his person when he entered the home through a downstairs window, according to police.
When police arrived on the scene, they saw both Pelosi and DePape fighting for control of a hammer. Police witnessed DePape assault Pelosi.
DePape was charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, and other criminal charges.
The House Speaker said in a statement that she, their children, and their grandchildren were “heartbroken and traumatized,” while reporting that Paul’s condition was improving.
While Democrats push to link DePape to the Jan. 6th riots and MAGA extremism, questions remain about what actually motivated DePape’s attack. Some neighbors have portrayed DePape as a homeless drug addict who has a sometimes contradictory political history, reportedly supporting both extremes of the political spectrum.