Source: Politics<\/p>\n
The violent break-in at the home of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which left her husband Paul hospitalized, has sparked a string of questions about the motive behind the attack and protection needs for lawmakers and their family members.<\/p>\n
Though San Francisco Police Chief William Scott described the attack as \u201cintentional\u201d and \u201cnot a random act,\u201d law enforcement hasn\u2019t yet detailed a motive for the alleged assailant or signaled if they\u2019ll provide new information about the assault Saturday.<\/p>\n
The alleged assailant, 42-year-old David DePape, who faces charges that include homicide and elder abuse, is expected to be arraigned in court<\/a> on Tuesday, with Brooke Jenkins, the San Francisco District Attorney, saying she will bring multiple felony charges on Monday.<\/p>\n News of the assault rocked Washington, D.C., where some lawmakers viewed it as a culmination of their growing concerns during the last two years as they\u2019ve faced increased security threats. Members of Congress faced more than 9,625 threats and concerning statements reported in 2021, according to figures from the Capitol Police.<\/p>\n DePape appeared to have embraced conspiracy theories and falsehoods including about the outcome of the 2020 election, the coronavirus vaccine and other political conspiracies, according to his social media and online posts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) described the attack as being carried out by \u201ca conspiracy theorist out to kill his spouse, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.\u201d DePape called out \u201cwhere\u2019s Nancy?\u201d during the invasion, drawing comparisons to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol when rioters searched for the speaker.<\/p>\n \u201cEvidence now points to an unhinged individual inspired by years of demonization of the Speaker. This is what happens when responsible leaders tolerate the intolerable for political gain,\u201d he added<\/a>, referring to consistent political attacks levied against Pelosi by Republicans.<\/p>\n Other Democrats were more direct in pointing the finger<\/a> at their fellow members of Congress for not pushing back forcefully enough in recent years against the rise in threats and political violence.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year, a GOP Congressman shared a depiction of himself killing me. … Yesterday, a man sharing that member\u2019s rhetoric tried to assassinate the Speaker and her spouse,\u201d Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Saturday<\/a>. Then, referring to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), she wrote: \u201cWhat has @GOPLeader said? Nothing. This is who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n A McCarthy spokesperson said on Friday that the minority leader had \u201creached out to the Speaker to check in on Paul and said he\u2019s praying for a full recovery and is thankful they caught the assailant.\u201d<\/p>\n The attack also put a new focus on the lack of protection for family members of public officials. While members of leadership, including Pelosi, have a security detail that stays with them, that protection isn\u2019t currently extended to their family members. <\/p>\n Pelosi wasn\u2019t at home during the attack, which police said the intruder accessed through a back door. Instead, Paul Pelosi was able to dial 911 himself after telling the intruder he had to go use the bathroom and calling from there, where his phone had been charging, according to a person familiar with the situation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Congress has doled out money to help fortify the Capitol complex in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack. And, in response to pressure from lawmakers, members were informed earlier this year that the House sergeant-at-arms would cover up to $10,000 for security equipment at their homes. <\/p>\n But that has hardly squashed concerns among lawmakers, with one predicting that Capitol Police will review security protections for the family members of congressional leaders in the wake of Friday\u2019s assault.<\/p>\n Dozens of Republicans condemned the attack and wished Paul Pelosi a quick recovery, after he was hospitalized and underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and \u201cserious injuries to his right arm and hands,\u201d according to Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill.<\/p>\n \u201cDisgusted to hear about the horrific assault on Speaker Pelosi\u2019s husband Paul. Grateful for law enforcement\u2019s actions to respond,\u201d tweeted House GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was the victim of a shooting at a congressional baseball practice in 2017. He added that: \u201cLet\u2019s be clear: Violence has no place in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n