The brutal attack against the husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) by a right-wing extremist shocked Congress and the country. The attack put the spotlight on the plague of political violence that’s risen after Donald Trump’s emergence to power.
The attack was reminiscent of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol as the assailant who broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home was shouting “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?”
The suspect then struck Paul Pelosi with a hammer, according to San Francisco’s chief of police, sending the 82-year-old to the hospital, where he underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. Doctors said Mr. Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery.
The vicious attack marked just the latest in a long string of violent episodes — some physical altercations, some distant threats — targeting members of Congress and other government figures.
It has also added new fuel to the simmering debate over the real-life consequences of violent political speech.
One political figure who is notorious for promoting violence against political opponents is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). One day before the attack on Paul Pelosi, the QAnon-aligned congresswoman fired off a tweet saying: “Wait until tomorrow.”
It’s not clear what Greene was referring to. But users couldn’t help becoming suspicious about her bizarre message, given her previous posts calling for the Speaker “to be executed for “treason.” Many wondered if Greene knew about the attack.
Check some of the reactions below:
Just wait until tomorrow.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 28, 2022
This what you were referring to? https://t.co/L27j0CtnEt
— Steve Blum 🔜 Unlock The Con (@blumspew) October 28, 2022
Was THIS what you were referring to, Marge?
cc @DOJCrimDiv @DOJPH @FBI @glennkirschner2 @FrankFigliuzzi @TwitterSafety
Pelosi's husband "violently assaulted" during home invasion https://t.co/5ZDayyyREL
— Social✽Fly (@socflyny) October 28, 2022
what do you imagine was supposed to happen today, Esteemed Congresswoman Clownshoes
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) October 28, 2022
Did you orchestrate the attack on Speaker Pelosi’s husband?
— Sherry #VoteLikeYourRightsDependOnItBecauseTheyDo (@sher_cares) October 28, 2022
This was posted several hours before Paul Pelosi was attacked… So MTG Knew!?!?!?🤬🤬🤬
Vote blue people! Did she order the hit on Paul Pelosi!!!?
— Jeff Lamont (@JeffLamont1) October 28, 2022
This is like when you guys tweeted '1776' the morning of January 6
— Sandi Bachom (@sandibachom) October 28, 2022
What's this mean Marge?…Yesterday did you know something about today's attack on Paul Pelosi?
— RDukester🌊🇺🇲🇺🇦👀 (@RDukester) October 29, 2022
— MicheleB (@micheleb801) October 28, 2022
Were you behind the assault on Pelosi?
— Anglophile girl (@KellyWosahla) October 28, 2022
Did you know in advance about the attack on Paul Pelosi, like you knew about the Jan 6 insurrection?
Just asking questions.https://t.co/1JtvsSd5ir
— D Villella ❄️ (@dvillella) October 28, 2022
Okay, it's tomorrow & I gotta ask the obvious…
Did you have anything to do with an attacker going to the Pelosi home & not being able to find Nancy attacked her husband viciously?
Did you have a hand in this?— 🐾I AmSami PATRIOT🇺🇸/Vote💙/🇺🇸/Resist NaziGop (@Samiknowsbest1) October 28, 2022
