Just one day after a violent hammer attack left House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband hospitalized with a fractured skull, right-wing social media accounts are spreading conspiracy theories questioning the circumstances of the assault.
Rather than relying on police statements, some conservative commentators and online activists are promoting unsupported claims about the attack, including suggestions that the incident was staged or that authorities are concealing important details.
False Claims Spread Across Social Media
Online speculation has intensified since Friday's arrest of David DePape, 42, at the Pelosi family's San Francisco residence.
Some accounts are describing the attack as a possible political setup, while others are circulating unverified allegations about the relationship between Pelosi and the suspect.
There is no credible evidence supporting those theories.
Police say officers witnessed the suspect strike Pelosi with a hammer. Investigators have also reported that the intruder was searching for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was in Washington at the time.
Extremist Connections Draw Scrutiny
Meanwhile, investigators and journalists are examining online writings apparently associated with DePape that include antisemitic material, conspiracy theories and far-right extremist views.
The attack comes after years of political hostility directed at Nancy Pelosi, who has frequently appeared in Republican campaign advertisements and conservative attacks.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly portrayed Pelosi as a political enemy, making her a central target of his criticism.
Pelosi Family Responds
In her first public statement since the attack, Nancy Pelosi said Saturday that her family is heartbroken and traumatized.
Her husband remains hospitalized following surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his arm and hands.
President Joe Biden has condemned the assault and warned about the dangers of political violence.
With the midterm elections just ten days away, the rapid spread of unsupported allegations is raising fresh concerns about misinformation and the increasingly hostile political environment.
While investigators continue establishing the facts, conspiracy theories are already competing with the official account of a violent attack that nearly cost an 82-year-old man his life.