House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at a news conference on the “Women’s Health Protection Act” outside the US Capitol on September 24, 2021.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Nancy Pelosi said the attack on her husband will impact her political future.
The lawmaker blamed misinformation for the assault on Paul Pelosi last month in a Monday interview.
“Paul was not the target and he’s the one paying the price,” Pelosi told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the violent attack on her husband will inevitably impact her political future following Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The California Democrat discussed the assault and aftermath in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday night, saying misinformation and rhetoric fueled the attack against Paul Pelosi.
Last week the Justice Department charged 42-year-old David Wayne DePape with assault and attempted kidnapping in connection to the break-in at the Pelosis’ San Francisco home. Authorities alleged DePape attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, sending him to the hospital where he underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture from the attack.
The assault marks a noted escalation of brewing political violence in the country. An FBI affidavit said DePape told San Francisco Police Department officials that he was searching for the Speaker and wanted to break her kneecaps as a message to other Democrats in office.
“Paul was not the target and he’s the one paying the price,” Pelosi told Cooper.
The interview marks Pelosi’s first public comments since her 82-year-old husband was attacked last month while she was in Washington, DC, with her protective detail.
“He’s so concerned about the traumatic effect on our children and our grandchildren, and we’re concerned about the traumatic effect on him,” she said, telling Cooper that Paul Pelosi was “doing okay” but had a long road ahead of him.
Pelosi said she and her husband had not yet had a detailed discussion about the incident because of the traumatic nature of the attack.
Ahead of the midterm elections on Tuesday, Cooper also asked Pelosi to comment on whether she had made a decision about retirement. There has been speculation over whether the longtime Speaker will retire should Democrats lose the House this week.
“I have to say, my decision will be affected by what happened in the last week or two,” Pelosi said, declining to offer more specifics.
Cooper asked her to clarify: “Will your decision be impacted by the attack in any way?”
“Yes,” Pelosi said.
“It will?” he asked.
“Yes.” she repeated.
But Pelosi said she remained “optimistic” about the Tuesday election, despite several close races in the battle for both chambers of Congress. Still, she warned of increasing dangers to US democracy soon after.
“I do believe that our democracy is in danger because of what the others are saying about undermining our elections, even now as we go forward,” Pelosi said.