Members of Congress express support for Paul Pelosi following violent attack

Members of Congress continued to precise support Sunday for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, after he was violently attacked by an intruder with a hammer on Friday.

The 82-year-old has passed through a successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands, Pelosi’s spokesman said.

The House Speaker, a California Democrat, was in Washington, D.C., on the time of the incident, authorities said.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that while people can have heated discussions about political issues, violence has to finish.

“It’s disgusting. This violence is horrible,” Scott said. “These items has to stop.”

David DePape, 42, was identified by police because the suspect who wielded a hammer in the course of the attack on Paul Pelosi.

He allegedly was trying to find the House speaker, shouting, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?” before attacking her husband, a source told NBC.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that Speaker Pelosi has been villainized and faced threats for years, and that it is evident the “vicious attack” was meant for her.

“I believe it is absolutely necessary that folks realize that it will not be just this moment of this horrific attack, but that now we have seen violence perpetrated throughout our political system,” Klobuchar said.

There are numerous levels of protection for members of Congress, and Klobuchar said there may be ways to permit all members to get protection, even in the event that they aren’t in line for the direct succession of the presidency.

In her first public comment because the assault, Speaker Pelosi said in a statement Saturday that she is “heartbroken” and traumatized” by the attack, but her husband’s condition “continues to enhance.”

“Please know that the outpouring of prayers and warm wishes from so many within the Congress is a comfort to our family and helps Paul make progress together with his recovery,” she said within the statement. 

DePape is being charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and other felonies within the attack, police said.

The felony charges shall be brought forward Monday and DePape is anticipated to be arraigned on Tuesday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said on Twitter.