Pelosi will say anything won’t she?
On Wednesday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attributed some of the blame for the 2022 hammer attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, to Republicans and their tactics. In a conversation with MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell, Pelosi suggested that the hostile and demonizing rhetoric from GOP figures played a role in inciting the violent act perpetrated by David DePape.
Pelosi accused the Republican Party of engaging in a “politics of personal destruction” that she claims began during the Clinton administration and has only intensified over time. She argued that these divisive tactics were subsequently directed at her, contributing to a toxic political environment that she believes may have incited DePape’s aggression. “The Republican Party’s history of personal attacks and divisive rhetoric, which started with the Clintons and then turned towards me, has fueled a dangerous political climate,” she stated.
Pelosi elaborated on her perspective by reflecting on the broader impact of such political hostility. She suggested that the GOP’s approach to political debate had crossed into more extreme territory, which she claims stoked the flames of aggression. “Their relentless attacks have gone beyond political debate and contributed to a climate of hostility,” Pelosi added.
Earlier in the week, Pelosi shared her feelings of personal guilt regarding the attack in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America.” She expressed sorrow that her husband, who she described as “not very political,” became a victim of the violence. Pelosi indicated that she believes the attack was politically motivated, and she felt remorseful that her husband had to suffer due to the political vitriol aimed at her.
David DePape, who had been deeply involved in conspiracy theories, admitted during his trial that Paul Pelosi was not his intended target. Despite this, he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison in May. This case continues to spark discussions about the consequences of extreme political rhetoric and its potential to incite real-world violence.
