The attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) husband would not take attention away from voters who are more focused on kitchen table issues, according to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
“The reality is for most Americans, the price of food the price of gasoline, the price of heating oil, the crime level in their city, the number of illegal immigrants coming in—there are lots of things going on that affect Americans personally every day,” Gingrich, a contributor to The Epoch Times, said in an interview.
“That, I think, has much more impact on the election,” he said.
David DePape, 42, allegedly broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco on Oct. 28 as part of an attempt to kidnap the House speaker, and assaulted Paul Pelosi, according to prosecutors. Local police who responded to a 911 call made by Paul Pelosi witnessed the two men both holding onto one hammer. DePape then pulled the hammer and used it to strike Paul Pelosi’s head, who fell to the ground, an FBI affidavit said. He is facing a slew of federal and state charges, including assault and attempted murder.
Paul Pelosi underwent surgery for a fractured skull and injuries to his right arm and hands. Nancy Pelosi on Oct. 31 said he is “making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process.”
Gingrich, who knows the 82-year-old Paul Pelosi, called the incident “horrible” and wrong. “He’s in our prayers,” the former speaker said.
The break-in has added fuel to tensions leading up to the Nov. 8 midterms, where Republicans are projected to make gains, with politicians from both sides trading blame.
President Joe Biden, for one, linked the attacker’s alleged words to rioters’ “Where’s Nancy?” chant during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, referring to media reports citing anonymous sources that DePape had asked “Where’s Nancy” during the break-in. Biden also blamed Republicans for inciting political violence.
By Eva Fu
