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      Nancy Pelosi: family ‘heartbroken and traumatized’ by brutal attack on her husband

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      Nancy Pelosi: family ‘heartbroken and traumatized’ by brutal attack on her husbandSpeaker’s husband underwent surgery after hammer assault that comes amid rising warnings of political violence in the US House speaker Nancy Pelosi said her family is “heartbroken and traumatized” after a brutal and bloody hammer assault on her husband that has shocked the US as it stands on the brink of tense and crucial midterm elections.An intruder smashed his way through a rear door into the Pelosi’s house in San Francisco on Friday. The man confronted Paul Pelosi and shouted, “Where is Nancy.”Paul Pelosi, 82, underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands but his doctors expect a full recovery. However, the brutal attack – by a man who had posted online right-wing conspiracy theories – came amid rising warnings of political violence in the US.In her first official statement on the attack, Nancy Pelosi said: “A violent man broke into our family home, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband Paul. Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop.”She added: “We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services, and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving. Please know that the outpouring of prayers and warm wishes from so many in the Congress is a comfort to our family and is helping Paul make progress with his recovery.”Paul Pelosi remains in the hospital but “his condition continues to improve”, the speaker said.The attacker now faces charges of attempted murder and other felonies.David DePape, 42, has been named by police as the attacker. Formal charges will be filed on Monday, and his arraignment is expected on Tuesday, according to the San Francisco district attorney’s office.In recent posts on several websites, he had reportedly expressed support for former president Donald Trump and embraced the cult-like conspiracy theory QAnon. The rambling posts included references to “satanic pedophilia”, aliens, antisemitic tropes and criticism of women, transgender people and censorship by tech companies.TopicsNancy PelosiUS politicsSan FranciscoHouse of RepresentativesnewsReuse this content More

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      Biden says it appears attack on Paul Pelosi intended for House Speaker

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      Biden says it appears attack on Paul Pelosi intended for House SpeakerSpeaker’s husband underwent surgery for skull fracture as political figures unite in condemnation of violence A man accused of clubbing the husband of the US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi,’ over the head with a hammer and threatening his life while demanding “Where is Nancy?” now faces charges of attempted murder and other felonies a day after the violent break-in at the couple’s San Francisco home.Attack on Pelosi’s husband heightens fears of increasing US political violenceRead morePaul Pelosi, 82, underwent surgery for a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands, though doctors expect a full recovery.Joe Biden on Saturday afternoon said Pelosi was “doing better” after his surgery. The US president told reporters it looked like the attack had been intended for Nancy Pelosi and he urged all politicians to contemn political violence.The assault stoked fears about political violence less than two weeks ahead of midterm elections on 8 November that will decide control of the House of Representatives and US Senate, coming amid the most vitriolic and polarized US political climate in decades.The 82-year-old House speaker herself was in Washington with her protective detail at the time of the assault, but she flew back to San Francisco on Friday afternoon and went to the hospital.Police identified the man arrested at the scene by officers who intervened in the attack as David DePape, 42. He, too, was hospitalized with minor injuries, although police have spoken to him and he is expected to be formally charged by the San Francisco district attorney on Monday.He was booked into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, battery, burglary and several other felonies.The San Francisco police chief, William Scott, told a Friday night news briefing that police detectives, assisted by FBI agents, had yet to determine exactly what precipitated the home invasion but said: “We know this was not a random act.“A statement from Nancy Pelosi’s spokesperson, Drew Hammill, said Pelosi’s husband had been attacked “by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the speaker.”Scott said the intruder, wielding a hammer, forced his way into the Pelosis’ townhouse in the city’s Pacific Heights neighborhood through a rear door shortly before 2.30am on Friday morning.Police were dispatched after a cryptic emergency 911 call from the residence. CNN reported that Paul Pelosi managed to call 911 and used coded language as he spoke to the dispatcher.Scott credited the 911 operator with using her experience and intuition to “figure out that there was more to this incident than what she was being told” by the caller, so she dispatched police urgently. Scott called her decision “life-saving”.He recounted that police arriving at the scene caught a glimpse through the front door of DePape and Pelosi struggling over a hammer. As the officers yelled at both men to drop the tool, DePape yanked the hammer away and was seen striking Pelosi at least once, the chief said.The officers then arrested Depape. Scott condemned violence against politicians and their loved ones saying they “did not sign up for this” and called the attack on Pelosi “intentional and wrong”.“Everybody should be disgusted,” he said.In recent online posts, an internet user named “daviddepape” expressed support for former US president Donald Trump and embraced the cult-like conspiracy theory QAnon.The posts included references to “satanic pedophilia”, antisemitic tropes and criticism of women, transgender people and censorship by tech companies.He also railed against the prosecution of white former police officer Derek Chauvin, CNN reported, for the racist murder of George Floyd in 2020, a crime that sparked a racial reckoning and a reflowering of the Black Lives Matter movement.Older messages promoted quartz crystals and hemp bracelets. Reuters could not confirm that the posts were created by the man arrested on Friday.Friday’s incident came a day after New York City police warned that extremists could target politicians, political events and polling sites ahead of the midterm elections, and threats have risen sharply.US faces new era of political violence as threats against lawmakers riseRead moreThe US Capitol police said they investigated 9,625 threats against lawmakers from both parties in 2021, nearly a threefold increase from 2017, amid security concerns.Pelosi’s office was invaded and ransacked during the 6 January 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol by extremist supporters of Trump, who had been incited by the-then Republican president, as they attacked law enforcement and sought to overturn Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election. Some of those who invaded the building hunted for the speaker, calling out her name.She had escaped with other lawmakers and then from a place of hiding led efforts to get the halls and chambers of the Capitol re-secured and back in action so that Congress could certify Joe Biden’s presidential election victory, which it did in the early hours of 7 January.In January 2021, the Pelosis’ home was vandalized with graffiti saying “Cancel rent” and “We want everything” painted on the house and a pig’s head left in front of the garage, media reported.The home of the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, was also vandalized.McConnell contributed to bipartisan condemnation, saying he was “horrified and disgusted” by Friday’s violence.Trump’s vice-president, Mike Pence, whom insurrectionists threatened to hang on January 6, a notion reportedly endorsed by Trump, because he was willing to follow protocol and certify Biden’s victory, tweeted on Friday. He condemned the attack on Paul Pelosi as an outrage and said “there can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families.”Speaking at a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Friday evening, Biden told the crowd: “Enough is enough.“Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against violence in our politics, regardless of what your politics are,” the US president said.Vice-President Kamala Harris was once the district attorney for San Francisco. On Saturday, she told an election campaign event in Baltimore that “there’s some scary stuff happening.”She said in place of vigorous but fair debate, “powerful people, so-called leaders, have been using the bully pulpit … to divide our country, in a way that is propagating hate,” adding that people needed to make their voices heard to articulate that “we won’t stand for that.”TopicsNancy PelosiSan FranciscoUS politicsUS crimenewsReuse this content More

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      Barack Obama reacts to attack on 'good friend' Paul Pelosi – video

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      At a rally in Georgia, Barack Obama commented on the violent attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband. The former US president said Paul Pelosi was a ‘good friend’ and condemned politicians who ‘stir up division to make folks as angry and as afraid of one another … for their own advantage’.
      Pelosi was attacked with a hammer after an intruder entered his home in San Francisco, demanding to see his wife, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was in Washington. The attack has prompted fears of growing political violence in the US before the midterm elections on 8 November

      Paul Pelosi in hospital with skull fracture after attack

      Attack heightens fears of increasing US political violence More

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      Attack on Pelosi’s husband heightens fears of increasing US political violence

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      Attack on Pelosi’s husband heightens fears of increasing US political violenceHammer assault on Paul Pelosi is latest in series of violent and threatening acts as midterm elections loom The bloody hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has sparked increased fears over political violence in America just weeks before the country’s crucial midterm elections.Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, in hospital after being attacked at homeRead moreThe assault – by someone who reportedly entered the Democratic leader’s home specifically in search of her – comes amid an alarming rise in violent rhetoric and threats targeting US lawmakers.As Americans prepare to go to the polls on 8 November, many experts and observers have warned of the danger of acts of political violence. The election has played out in an atmosphere of conspiracy and intimidation amid widespread rightwing claims of voter fraud and persistent evidence-free accusations that the 2020 election was stolen.Paul Pelosi’s assailant reportedly posted on social media numerous far-right conspiracy theories around the election, as well as other issues such as big tech and the Covid-19 pandemic.According to police, a suspect identified as 42-year-old David DePape broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home and beat her husband with a hammer until officers disarmed him. The suspect is now facing a number of charges, including attempted homicide and assault with a deadly weapon. Pelosi was taken to a nearby hospital, and the speaker’s office said he was expected to make a full recovery.CNN has reported that the assailant appeared to have targeted the speaker, who was not in San Francisco at the time of the attack. The suspect reportedly entered her home shouting, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”The assault marked the latest in a string of incidents involving threats of violence against American lawmakers, judges and political candidates.In June, a man carrying a gun was arrested outside the home of the supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh after threatening to kill him. A month later, Seattle police responded to a call about a man standing outside the home of Pramila Jayapal and shouting death threats and racial slurs against the progressive congresswoman. Days after that, New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin was attacked at a campaign event, when a man with a sharp weapon charged at him.Jayapal weighed in on the assault against Pelosi’s husband, saying on Twitter, “My heart breaks for @SpeakerPelosi and Paul Pelosi, and for our entire country. This violence is horrific. Our prayers are with them both and their family.”My heart breaks for @SpeakerPelosi and Paul Pelosi, and for our entire country. This violence is horrific. Our prayers are with them both and their family. ❤️ https://t.co/og5ZUVSAhW— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) October 28, 2022
      The US Capitol police has reported an overall rise in the number of threats against members of Congress since the deadly January 6 insurrection last year.According to USCP data, officers tracked 9,625 threats and directions of interest (meaning concerning actions or statements) against members of Congress in 2021, compared with 3,939 such instances in 2017. The House sergeant at arms has responded to this worrisome trend by giving lawmakers up to $10,000 to upgrade security at their homes.Although both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have faced a number of threats in recent months, the increase is not evenly distributed along the political spectrum. According to a study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League, rightwing extremists have committed about 75% of the 450 political murders that occurred in the US over the past decade, compared with 4% attributed to leftwing extremists.The January 6 insurrection, which was carried out by a group of Donald Trump’s supporters attempting to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory, provided a vivid example of the danger of rightwing extremism. A bipartisan Senate report released in June concluded that seven people died in connection with the insurrection.The words of the man who assaulted Pelosi’s husband on Friday echoed those of the January 6 insurrectionists. One man who participated in the Capitol attack was recorded saying, “Where are you, Nancy? We’re looking for you.”The attack against Pelosi’s husband prompted calls for Republican lawmakers to condemn the use of threats and violence against political opponents. One of those calls came from Adam Kinzinger, a Republican member of the the House select committee investigating January 6 whose family has received death threats over his work with the panel.“This morning’s terrifying attack on Paul Pelosi by a man obsessed with election conspiracies is a dangerous reality encouraged by some members of my own party,” Kinzinger said on Twitter. “This must be condemned by every Member of Congress [and] candidate. Now.”TopicsUS politicsNancy PelosiDemocratsRepublicansnewsReuse this content More

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      What we know so far about the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband

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      What we know so far about the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husbandDavid DePape, 42, was a hemp jewellery maker who posted conspiracy theories on Facebook The man accused of breaking into US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home in San Francisco and beating her husband with a hammer grew up in Canada, became a nudist activist in the Bay Area, and spread far-right conspiracy theories before being linked to the attack Friday, according to relatives and various media reports.David DePape, the 42-year-old suspect booked with attempting to murder Paul Pelosi, grew up in Powell River, British Colombia, but left about two decades ago to maintain a romantic relationship that led him to California, his stepfather Gene DePape told CNN.Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, in hospital with skull fracture after attackRead moreHe had since become estranged from his family, Gene DePape and an uncle named Mark DePape said to CNN. But David DePape’s name and photo surfaced in San Francisco Chronicle news coverage for his living in a three-bedroom Victorian flat in Berkeley with a known nudist activist named Oxane “Gypsy” Taub, her three children and her fiance, Jaymz Smith.Smith and Taub had asked DePape, described as a hemp jewellery maker, to be the best man at a wedding they planned to hold on the steps of San Francisco’s city hall.Taub was convicted last year of various criminal charges, including stalking and attempted child abduction.Listed years ago in voting records as a Green Party supporter, DePape said he also took to the streets with activists who opposed a successful push to ban public nudity in San Francisco, the Chronicle also reported.More recently, Gene DePape and Mark DePape said, David maintained a Facebook account containing multiple conspiracy-laden posts.The account, which was taken down by Facebook’s owner Meta on Friday, included links to videos produced by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell which falsely claimed that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Republican incumbent Donald Trump in favor of his Democratic rival Joe Biden.Other posts mentioned videos falsely proclaiming that the congressional committee investigating the US Capitol attack staged by Trump supporters on January 6 had collapsed, and another was titled: “Global Elites Plan To Take Control Of YOUR Money! (Revealed)”.Additionally, he purportedly managed a blog under the domain godisloving.wordpress.com – also deactivated Friday – on which he regularly posted rants concerning the “ruling class”.The blog also had a banner reading “Weclome (sic) to Big Brothers Censorship Hell” above numerous posts rambling about government, media, tech and alien conspiracies, among other topics.Speaking to CNN, a DePape acquaintance named Linda Schneider said that she met him about eight years ago. He was living in a storage unit in Berkeley and described him as struggling with hard drugs at the time.Schneider said she later began receiving “really disturbing” emails from him, adding that he was “using biblical justification to do harm”.Another acquaintance, Laura Hayes, told CNN that she worked with DePape about 10 years ago and helped him make the hemp bracelets that he sold as part of a business he ran.“He was very odd – he didn’t make eye contact very well,” Hayes said, adding that he told her that “he talks to angels and there will be a hard time coming”.On Friday, San Francisco police alleged that DePape broke into the home of the 82-year-old Pelosis in a targeted act. Wielding a hammer, he allegedly attacked Paul Pelosi and asked, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”The speaker was not at home at the time – she was in Washington DC with a security detail which accompanies her at all times, as standard.Pelosi dialed 911 himself and got police to check on him after telling the burglar that he had to use the bathroom and then calling on his phone, which had been charging there, Politico reported.Police then went to the Pelosis’ place at about 2.30am on Friday, and they found both Paul Pelosi and DePape both grasping at the hammer. Officers immediately arrested DePape, who had apparently planned to tie up Paul Pelosi until the speaker of the House returned home.First responders took Paul Pelosi to a hospital to be treated for blunt force trauma to his head and body. A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi said her businessman husband had undergone “successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands” and was expected to make a full physical recovery.Authorities on Friday were expecting to charge DePape with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and other felonies.TopicsNancy PelosiUS politicsSan FrancisconewsReuse this content More

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      Democrats and Republicans condemn attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband

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      Democrats and Republicans condemn attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husbandReactions pour in after Paul Pelosi was violently attacked by a hammer-wielding intruder Politicians from across the political aisle are reacting to the news that US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was injured during a break-in and attack at their California home.The White House released a statement on behalf of Joe Biden, confirming that the president had spoken to Pelosi, his fellow Democrat, and expressed his support for Paul Pelosi’s recovery.Biden also denounced the violence and called for the couple’s privacy to be respected.“The President continues to condemn all violence, and asks that the family’s desire for privacy be respected”, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said in part.Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, in hospital after being attacked at homeRead moreThe US Senate’s Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, similarly decried Friday’s violence, calling the attack against Pelosi and her husband a “a dastardly act”.“I spoke with speaker Pelosi earlier this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and heartfelt wishes to her husband and their family, and I wish him a speedy recovery,” Schumer said on Twitter.Amid Republicans, many wished Paul a steady recovery and denounced the violence.The Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell wished Pelosi a full recovery and shared his shock at the attack on Twitter: “Horrified and disgusted by the reports that Paul Pelosi was assaulted in his and speaker Pelosi’s home last night. Grateful to hear that Paul is on track to make a full recovery and that law enforcement including our stellar Capitol police are on the case.”The House Republican whip Steve Scalise condemned the attack on Twitter and shared gratitude for investigators’ involvement.Scalise, who was shot in an attempted assassination in 2017, added, “Let’s be clear: Violence has no place in this country. I’m praying for Paul Pelosi’s full recovery.”Meanwhile, Kentucky senator Rand Paul shared a message of recovery for Pelosi’s husband. But he also expressed bitterness at a 2020 tweet from Pelosi’s daughter about an attack Rand Paul suffered from a neighbor in 2017.“No one deserves to be assaulted. Unlike Nancy Pelosi’s daughter who celebrated my assault, I condemn this attack and wish Mr Pelosi a speedy recovery,” Paul tweeted on Friday.Paul Pelosi was attacked on Friday at the Pelosi’s San Fransisco residence while the California representative was in Washington DC.The hammer-wielding intruder broke into the Pelosi home, allegedly shouting, “Where is Nancy?” in search of the top House Democrat.The attack was not random, the Associated Press reported, and the attacker, who is in custody, allegedly targeted the Pelosi family residence.Pelosi is currently in an area hospital after the violent attack and is expected to make a full physical recovery.TopicsNancy PelosiUS politicsSan FrancisconewsReuse this content More

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      Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, in hospital after being attacked at home

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      Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, in hospital after being attacked at homeDemocratic House speaker’s office says husband ‘violently assaulted’ early on Friday by suspect who is now in police custody Paul Pelosi, husband of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, was taken to hospital early on Friday after he was attacked at the couple’s home in California with a hammer by an assailant who was reported to have shouted “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”San Francisco police said that they were called to the Pelosi house in the city on a “wellbeing check” at about 2.27am local time on Friday morning. They found an adult male confronting Paul Pelosi, and a hammer was being grasped by both men.“The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it. Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody,” said Bill Scott, chief of the San Francisco police department.Scott named the suspect as David DePape, 42, adding that any motive was still being determined. Charges are to be brought at the San Francisco county jail, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and other felonies.It was reported by CNN that the suspect intended to tie the victim up “until Nancy got home” and that he had posted rightwing and conspiracy theories online, including content promoting the lie that Donald Trump was deprived of victory in the 2020 election because of voter fraud.In a statement to CNN, an acquaintance of DePape’s said he appeared to be “out of touch with reality”. Two of the suspect’s relatives also told the network that DePape, who grew up in British Columbia, Canada, was estranged from his family.In addition to multiple conspiracy posts on his Facebook account, which was reviewed by CNN and later taken down by Meta on Friday, DePape is also believed to have managed a blog to which he regularly posted screeds concerning the “ruling class”. The blog, which the San Francisco Chronicle reviewed and was later taken down, had a banner that said “Welcome to Big Brothers Censorship Hell”, along with numerous conspiracy posts about the government, media outlets and tech companies.According to the Associated Press, the attacker had specifically targeted the Pelosi family home. Video footage of the house showed glass shattered in a side entrance, indicating where the break-in may have occurred. A person briefed on the situation told AP that the intruder had confronted Paul Pelosi while demanding to know where his wife was. A similar chant of “Where’s Nancy?” was made by insurrectionists during the assault on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.The speaker was not at home at the time of the attack, but was in Washington DC with security protection that accompanies her at all times as standard.Her husband suffered blunt force trauma to the head and body in the attack. He was being treated in hospital for bruising, severe swelling and other injuries.In a statement, Pelosi’s spokesperson Drew Hammill said the speaker’s husband, 82, was “receiving excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery”. “The speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time,” Hammill said.MSNBC on Friday afternoon reported that Pelosi was traveling to San Francisco to be with her husband, who was still undergoing surgery at the time. A Pelosi spokesperson wouldn’t comment on that report.While the exact motivation for the attack was unclear on Friday morning, it raised fears about the safety of members of Congress and their families.Concerns have been rising, particularly since the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, by extremist supporters of Donald Trump intent on overturning his supposed loss to Joe Biden in the presidential election, about a new era of violent threats against US lawmakers and their families and staff, and their security.In July, members of Congress were given $10,000 each to upgrade security at their homes in the face of rising threats. Some have pushed for even more protection, pointing to people turning up at their homes and an increasing amount of threatening communications.Joe Biden called Nancy Pelosi about the incident on Friday morning.“The president is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi’s whole family. This morning he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack. He is also very glad that a full recovery is expected,” the White House said in a statement.US faces new era of political violence as threats against lawmakers riseRead moreChuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the US Senate, called Friday’s attack “a dastardly act”. He said he had conveyed his “deepest concern and heartfelt wishes” to Nancy Pelosi.Top Republicans also expressed their horror at the attack. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader in the House who is poised to take over as speaker should the Democrats lose control of the chamber in next month’s midterm elections, reached out to “check in on Paul” according to a spokesperson.The Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, said he was “horrified and disgusted” by the assault.Paul Pelosi is a businessman who runs his own real estate and venture capital investment firm, Financial Leasing Services, based in San Francisco. He met Nancy D’Alesandro when they were both students in Washington DC, and they married in 1963. They have five children and many grandchildren.Nancy Pelosi has had two stints as speaker of the US House, between 2007 to 2011 and since January 2019. She represents California’s 12th congressional district.The investigation into Friday’s attack is being handled jointly by the FBI, the US Capitol police (USCP) and local San Francisco officers.The statement said that special agents with the USCP’s California field office “quickly arrived on scene”. A team of threat assessment investigators from the east coast was also sent to assist the FBI and the San Francisco police department with a joint investigation.Nancy Pelosi had just returned to Washington this week from a security conference in Europe and is due to make a keynote speech at an advocacy event on Saturday evening with vice-president, Kamala Harris.In addition to the rising threats on members of Congress, state and local politicians have also been confronted by increased threat levels. This week the campaign office of Katie Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state who is running for governor of the state in next month’s midterm elections, was broken into.A suspect, Daniel Mota Dos Reis, has been charged with third-degree burglary.Often at Pelosi’s side during formal events in Washington, Paul Pelosi largely remains on the west coast.Guardian reporter Maya Yang and the Associated Press and contributed reportingTopicsNancy PelosiDemocratsUS politicsnewsReuse this content More

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      Pelosi says Trump not ‘man enough to show up’ to testify on January 6

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      Pelosi says Trump not ‘man enough to show up’ to testify on January 6Trump previously indicated he would agree to testify under live proceedings, but Pelosi says his lawyers will be unlikely to let him speak As jury selection begins in a criminal trial of the Trump Organization for tax fraud, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has taunted Donald Trump with being too cowardly to testify in another legal challenge bearing down on him.The House speaker goaded the former president in an MSNBC interview over the subpoena that was served on Friday, ordering him to testify under oath before the committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. “I don’t think he’s man enough to show up,” Pelosi said.Donald Trump formally subpoenaed by January 6 committeeRead moreTrump has been given until 4 November to produce numerous documents demanded by the House committee relating to his efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, which culminated in the Capitol insurrection. He is then expected to be called before the panel on or about 14 November.“I don’t think his lawyers will want him to show up because he has to testify under oath. We’ll see if he’s man enough to show up,” Pelosi said.Pelosi’s acerbic comments were made as Trump’s legal problems appeared to be closing in on him. On Monday, jury selection began in a criminal trial brought by the district attorney of Manhattan.It accuses the Trump Organization – the former president’s business conglomerate – of a range of crimes including tax fraud and handing out undeclared perks to senior executives. Trump is not charged personally in the case, which is expected to last a month, but could be affected by reputational damage to his company.Republicans always choose radicalization to energize their electoral base | Thomas ZimmerRead moreThe case has been brought by the Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg. The star witness is likely to be Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.Weisselberg pleaded guilty in August to accepting off-the-books untaxed perks, including rent, car payments and school tuition. He secured a plea deal in which a possible maximum 15-year prison sentence has been reduced to five months in exchange for his cooperation with prosecutors.Lawyers for the Trump Organization are expected to argue in court that Weisselberg arranged the perks on his own behalf without any complicity from the company.Among the documents that Trump has been ordered to turn over to the January 6 committee are all records of phone calls and texts sent or received by the former president on the day of the US Capitol attack. The committee has also specifically requested any communications between Trump and the far-right extremist groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.Capitol attack: Proud Boys leader pleads guilty to seditious conspiracyRead moreIt remains to be seen whether Pelosi’s prediction that Trump will duck an appearance before the committee proves to be accurate. He has indicated he would willingly testify but with the proviso that he does so in live proceedings.Over the weekend Liz Cheney, the Republican vice-chairperson of the committee, rebuffed the idea of a live Trump spectacle. She told NBC News the committee would treat the event “with great seriousness”.“Trump’s not going to turn this into a circus,” Cheney said.The trial of the Trump Organization emerged out of a criminal investigation launched by the Manhattan DA into whether Trump fraudulently distorted his company’s assets and earnings to reduce his tax burden and secure preferable deals with banks and other lenders. Bragg pulled back in January from charging Trump personally, leading to the resignation of two top prosecutors in protest.Two Trump Organization entities – the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp – are implicated in the trial. They face possible fines of up to $1.7m (£1.5m), which is a relatively tiny amount for the conglomerate, but a conviction could have knock-on effects for future business.Trump still faces a civil lawsuit over the fraud allegations that were brought by the attorney general of New York state, Letitia James, last month. The suit accuses Trump of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars and seeks to bar the former president and his three eldest children from serving as business executives in New York. TopicsDonald TrumpJanuary 6 hearingsNancy PelosiUS politicsnewsReuse this content More