Attempted attack on Pelosi raises questions on motive, family protections

1 year ago 44

News of the battle rocked Washington, D.C., wherever immoderate lawmakers viewed it arsenic a culmination of their increasing concerns during the past 2 years arsenic they’ve faced accrued information threats. Members of Congress faced much than 9,625 threats and concerning statements reported successful 2021, according to figures from the Capitol Police.

DePape appeared to person embraced conspiracy theories and falsehoods including astir the result of the 2020 election, the coronavirus vaccine and different governmental conspiracies, according to his social media and online posts.

Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) described the onslaught arsenic being carried retired by “a conspiracy theorist retired to termination his spouse, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.” DePape called retired “where’s Nancy?” during the invasion, drafting comparisons to the Jan. 6 onslaught connected the Capitol erstwhile rioters searched for the speaker.

“Evidence present points to an unhinged idiosyncratic inspired by years of demonization of the Speaker. This is what happens erstwhile liable leaders tolerate the intolerable for governmental gain,” helium added, referring to accordant governmental attacks levied against Pelosi by Republicans.

Other Democrats were much nonstop successful pointing the finger astatine their chap members of Congress for not pushing backmost forcefully capable successful caller years against the emergence successful threats and governmental violence.

“Last year, a GOP Congressman shared a depiction of himself sidesplitting me. ... Yesterday, a antheral sharing that member’s rhetoric tried to assassinate the Speaker and her spouse,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Saturday. Then, referring to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), she wrote: “What has @GOPLeader said? Nothing. This is who helium is.”

A McCarthy spokesperson said connected Friday that the number person had “reached retired to the Speaker to cheque successful connected Paul and said he’s praying for a afloat betterment and is thankful they caught the assailant.”

The onslaught besides enactment a caller absorption connected the deficiency of extortion for household members of nationalist officials. While members of leadership, including Pelosi, person a information item that stays with them, that extortion isn’t presently extended to their household members.

Pelosi wasn’t astatine location during the attack, which constabulary said the intruder accessed done a backmost door. Instead, Paul Pelosi was capable to dial 911 himself aft telling the intruder helium had to spell usage the bath and calling from there, wherever his telephone had been charging, according to a idiosyncratic acquainted with the situation.

Congress has doled retired wealth to assistance fortify the Capitol analyzable successful the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack. And, successful effect to unit from lawmakers, members were informed earlier this twelvemonth that the House sergeant-at-arms would screen up to $10,000 for information instrumentality astatine their homes.

But that has hardly squashed concerns among lawmakers, with 1 predicting that Capitol Police volition reappraisal information protections for the household members of legislature leaders successful the aftermath of Friday’s assault.

Dozens of Republicans condemned the onslaught and wished Paul Pelosi a speedy recovery, aft helium was hospitalized and underwent country to repair a skull fracture and “serious injuries to his close limb and hands,” according to Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill.

“Disgusted to perceive astir the horrific battle connected Speaker Pelosi’s hubby Paul. Grateful for instrumentality enforcement’s actions to respond,” tweeted House GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was the unfortunate of a shooting astatine a legislature shot signifier successful 2017. He added that: “Let’s beryllium clear: Violence has nary spot successful this country.”

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