As the 2022 midterm election approaches, Democratic lawmakers are increasingly under threat by right-wing followers of Donald Trump. On Thursday, a suspect attacked the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at their home in a possible plot to assassinate her.

Pelosi is currently second in the presidential line of succession, but that has not stopped Republicans like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from calling for her to be killed. During the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, Pelosi had to evacuate the House floor with other lawmakers to escape Trump supporters who were actively hunting her down to assassinate her.

On Thursday, a man broke into Pelosi’s San Fransisco home and proceeded to assault her husband Paul with a hammer while shouting “Where is Nancy?” before police intervened.

“When the officers arrived on scene, they encountered an adult male and Mr. Pelosi’s husband, Paul,” San Fransisco Police Chief William Scott told reporters. “Our officers observed Mr. Pelosi and the suspect both holding a hammer. The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it. Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid.”

Speaker Pelosi was not at home at the time of the attack. She was in Washington D.C. with a protection detail, which is apparently a necessary precaution. The suspect allegedly intended to wait for her to get home. The possibly politically-motivated attack underscores fears of violence from right-wing extremists ahead of the election next month in which control of the House and Senate are at stake.

Though it is yet to be confirmed, 42-year-old David Depape is allegedly linked to right-wing conspiracies and themes through posts on Internet sites.

The Justice Department, the FBI, and Capitol Police must take right-wing extremists more seriously. The future of our country is at stake. The fact that they can get so close to the House Speaker and attack those closest to her means no Democrat is safe. Republicans must also condemn the extremists in their party and punish members like Greene who incite violence.

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