A Democrat House committee chairwoman said the alleged attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) husband raises “significant questions” for the U.S. Capitol Police.
House Administration Committee chairwoman Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) sent a letter to U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger on Tuesday and had several questions about the Oct. 28 incident. Authorities said that 42-year-old David DePape, confirmed to be an illegal immigrant from Canada, broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home and hit Paul Pelosi with a hammer.
Questions have emerged about the security system at the Pelosi home, the apparent lack of security guards, and how an individual could break into the home of one of the most powerful politicians amid rhetoric from Democrats that U.S. institutions are allegedly under threat by extremists.
Paul Pelosi, according to court papers, went into his bathroom to call 911 before police arrived and police witnessed Pelosi and DePape with their hand on the same hammer before DePape allegedly hit Pelosi in the head, fracturing his skull. The San Francisco District Attorney’s office said DePape allegedly told officials that he wanted to break the House speaker’s kneecaps.
Lofgren, who also sits on the House Jan. 6 panel, raised questions about the security protocols that were in place, asking the Capitol Police for answers on home security and threats to top lawmakers. Pelosi, as Speaker of the House is second in line, to the presidency after Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Has the [U.S. Capitol Police] adopted a written strategic plan, including any short- and long-term benchmarks, goals, or objectives; any codified policy directives; and/or any standard operating procedures for officers to be detailed to proposed regional or field offices? If so, please provide these documents to the Committee. If not, why has the Department not developed such plans or policies?” she asked.
“With regard to any codified strategic plan, policy directives, and/or any standard operating procedures for officers to be detailed to field offices, were those followed by the Department and personnel in the San Francisco field office with respect to the October 28 attack? If not, why not?”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Capitol Police said in a statement that its Command Center has cameras that are used to “actively monitor the Speaker’s San Francisco residence around the clock” but only when she is there. They were not being actively monitored because Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., at the time of the break-in.
“While the Speaker was with her security detail in Washington, D.C., the San Francisco cameras were not actively monitored as they are when the Speaker is at the residence. The Command Center personnel noticed the police activity on the screen and used the feeds to monitor the response and assist investigators,” the statement said, adding that an “internal security review” is now underway.
