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Assailant in police custody, Pelosi’s office says, as motives of attack at speaker’s San Francisco home remains unclear.
The husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been “violently assaulted” in their home in San Francisco, her office has said.
A spokesman for the top US lawmaker said the attack took place on Friday morning and the assailant is in custody, adding that Paul Pelosi is receiving “excellent” medical care. The motives behind the assault remain unclear.
“The Speaker was not in San Francisco at the time,” Pelosi’s office said in a statement. “The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time.”
The attack comes less than two weeks ahead of the crucial November 8 midterm elections in which control of Congress, including the speakership of the House of Representatives, is up for grabs.
As a veteran Democrat, 82-year-old Pelosi is a frequent target for Republican criticism. Her office was ransacked during the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Paul Pelosi, 82, owns a San Francisco-based real estate and venture capital firm. He made headlines earlier this year when he was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol for which he was sentenced to five days in jail.
The US Capitol Police, the agency responsible for the safety of members of Congress, said it was jointly investigating the assault with the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department, confirming that Speaker Pelosi was in Washington at the time of the attack.
“The San Francisco Police Department has the suspect in custody. The motivation for the attack is still under investigation,” Capitol Police said in a statement.
