Longtime MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell attempted to tie the violent attack on Paul Pelosi to the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill.
Mitchell pointed to reports saying that the alleged attacker, identified by authorities as Berkeley resident David DePape, had been looking for the House Speaker and asking, “Where is Nancy?” — just like some of the rioters had asked as they walked through the halls of the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
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BREAKING: Suspect in attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband was searching for the House speaker, sources say.@mitchellreports: "The intruder confronted Mr. Pelosi in their home, shouting 'where is Nancy' … That's what the intruders going through hallways on Jan. 6 were shouting." pic.twitter.com/qRtwGye32E
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 28, 2022
“The assailant who attacked Paul Pelosi was in search of the Speaker of the House,” Mitchell began. “Which puts it into a federal crime, you know, against the relative of an officer and now the second in line for the presidency.”
“Before the assault occurred, according to the source, the intruder confronted Mr. Pelosi in their home, shouting, ‘Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?’” Mitchell continued, before observing, “That’s what the intruders going through hallways on Jan. 6 were shouting: ‘Nancy, Nancy,’ this is part of the January 6th insurrection toxicity that has infected the brains of people around the country in horrible ways, if this is accurate.”
Despite Mitchell’s claims, local officials have made it a point to state that the motive for the attack has not yet been determined.
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"The motive for this attack is still being determined." pic.twitter.com/xyD9IDgVxw
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 28, 2022
Even Drew Hammill, spokesperson for Speaker Pelosi, said in his initial statement that no one had yet determined the alleged attacker’s motive: “The assailant is in custody and the motivation for the attack is under investigation.”
Still, Mitchell was not the only one leaping to such conclusions. Attorney Tristan Snell claimed, “January 6 isn’t over. They tried to kill Pelosi that day, and she’s still in danger. This won’t end until every single person involved is brought to justice. Every. Single. One.”
January 6 isn't over. They tried to kill Pelosi that day, and she's still in danger.
This won't end until every single person involved is brought to justice. Every. Single. One.
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) October 28, 2022
Author Wajahat Ali joined in, adding, “Reminder some violent insurrectionists incited by Trump wanted to kill Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence on January 6.”
As did NBC presidential historian Michael Beschloss, who said, “@NBCNews: attacker of Paul Pelosi shouted, ‘Where is Nancy?’ This would echo January 6, 2021, attack against Congress.”
@NBCNews: attacker of Paul Pelosi shouted, "Where is Nancy?"
This would echo January 6, 2021, attack against Congress.— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) October 28, 2022
Tennessee Congressional candidate Randal Cooper argued that a failure to address what happened on January 6th was the reason politically motivated violence was happening.
“Our collective failure to have any real consequences for the violent attempt to overthrow the government on January 6 continues. It’s been left to voters to decide whether we’re a democracy or a dictatorship,” he claimed.