Paul Pelosi, Home from Hospital, Expects 'Long Recovery Process'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that her husband is expected to begin a "long recovery process" after being released from a San Francisco hospital.

Paul Pelosi, 82, was released from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Thursday, almost one week after a home intruder attacked him with a hammer and left him with injuries that included a fractured skull. Following his release, Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that her husband was thankful for the medical team that gave him "life-saving treatment," which included emergency surgery.

"The Pelosi family is thankful for the beautiful outpouring of love, support and prayers from around the world," Nancy's Pelosi's statement said. "Paul is grateful to the 911 operator, emergency responders, trauma care team, ICU staff, and the entire ZSFGH medical staff for their excellent and compassionate life-saving treatment he received after the violent assault in our home."

"Paul remains under doctors' care as he continues to progress on a long recovery process and convalescence," she continued. "He is now home surrounded by his family who request privacy."

Suspected attacker David DePape, 42, allegedly shouted "Where is Nancy" before the attack took place. He later told police that he was "fighting against tyranny" and had intended to kidnap the House speaker and likely injure her due to his perceived grievances against the Democratic Party.

DePape has been charged with multiple federal and state felonies, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and burglary. He pleaded not guilty to all state charges on Tuesday but has yet to enter pleas in federal court.

Baseless conspiracy theories about Pelosi's attack have emerged on the political right, although evidence gathered by police, prosecutors and DePape himself all contradict the claims. Prominent Republican politicians have blamed the attack on Democratic policies on crime and faced backlash for seemingly making light of the violence.

J.D. Vance, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, said on Tuesday that it was a "problem" to "turn" the attack "into a political issue," arguing that the focus should instead be on reports that DePape is a Canadian citizen who allegedly outstayed his visa. Law enforcement and prosecutors say that the attack was politically motivated.

"Mr. DePape specifically targeted the Pelosi home to confront Speaker Pelosi," San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said during a press conference on Monday. "What is clear, based on the evidence that we have thus far, is that this house and the speaker herself were specifically targets of the defendant.

"As leaders and as citizens, it is incumbent upon us all to watch the words and to turn down the volume of our political rhetoric," she added. "We should be able to all engage in passionate political discourse but still remain respectful of each other. Violence certainly has no place in San Francisco, or in politics."

In addition to a skull fracture, Paul Pelosi suffered injuries to his hands and arm in last Friday's attack. The full extent of his injuries and current condition is unclear. Depending on severity, skull fractures can potentially cause serious and long-term complications like seizures and brain damage, while medications may be required during recovery.

According to the neurosurgery department at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, skull fractures that require surgical intervention may involve a break that causes a depression of the skull, with broken bone pointed inwards toward the brain.

Newsweek reached out to Pelosi's office for additional information and comment.

Update 11/03/22, 7:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and background.