The attack on Paul Pelosi
Image: Kevin Wolf/AP
Paul Pelosi, the 82-year-old husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), was attacked in the couple’s San Francisco home early Friday morning by a 44-year-old male intruder, who shouted “Where is Nancy?” before assaulting Mr. Pelosi with a hammer, law enforcement officials said. Mrs. Pelosi was in D.C. with her protective detail at the time of the attack.
- Mr. Pelosi underwent surgery at a nearby hospital for a skull fracture and other injuries. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
📰 More details… The intruder is set to be arraigned tomorrow on felony charges, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, threatening a family member of a public official, and burglary. Police haven’t identified a motive for the attack.
- Many of the intruder’s recent public activities and posts on social media offered support for right-leaning conspiracy theories about QAnon, Covid, and the 2020 election, per multiple sources across the political spectrum.
- The WSJ also reported the intruder was formerly affiliated with progressive causes like nudism and gay rights.
📸 Zoom out: There’s been a 140+% increase in credible threats of violence against members of Congress between 2017 and 2021, per Capitol Police data (4,000 → 9,600). Some notable examples:
- In 2017, a Bernie Sanders supporter opened fire as Republican members of a congressional baseball team held a practice, injuring Rep. Steve Scalise.
- Earlier this year, a man upset over the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade was arrested with weapons outside conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home.
- Last week, three men were convicted of supporting a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) over her Covid restriction policies.
📊 Flash poll: What do you think is most responsible for the recent increase of political threats/violence in America?
Growing distrust in public institutions
Echo chambers and radicalization fueled by social media algorithms
The “Primary Problem” – aka increasingly partisan candidates & politicians
See a 360° view of what the media is saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that while there have been some instances of left-leaning political violence, statistics conclusively show that it’s by and large a right-wing problem.
- Others argue that violence against elected officials is the mark of an undemocratic society – which is what America is trending towards, largely due to false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
- “Don’t blame ‘both sides.’ The right is driving political violence.” –Max Boot, WaPo
- “The horrifying attack on Paul Pelosi is an attack on democracy” –LA Times Editorial Board
- “The attack on Paul Pelosi was an attempt to intimidate all of us. Don't let it” –Dennis Aftergut, Jeffrey Abramson, SF Chronicle
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the recent increase in political violence from both sides of the aisle has increased due to a spike hateful rhetoric aimed across the aisle
- Others contend that the attack on Mr. Pelosi was the work of a psychotic individual who’s clearly not in their right mind, and shouldn’t be blamed on the right.
- “The Assault on Paul Pelosi” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “Pelosi attack suspect David DePape was a psychotic homeless addict estranged from his pedophile lover & their children” –Michael Shellenberger, NY Post
- “Attack on Paul Pelosi hints at a significant Capitol Police failure” –Tim Rogan, National Review
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