'Needs the hammer': Fox News host laughs about attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband

04 May 2024

During a recent segment on Jesse Watters Primetime, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy cracked a joke at the expense of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-California) husband, Paul, in reference to an incident where he was hospitalized after a home invasion.

The Daily Beast reported that Campos-Duffy made the remark while discussing President Joe Biden awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the United States' highest non-military honor — to the former speaker at a recent White House ceremony. Other recipients included Team USA Gymnastics Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, former Secretary of State John Kerry and a posthumous award for assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers, among others.

At one point, guest host Pete Hegseth and Campos-Duffy bandied about other names for hypothetical future medal of freedom ceremonies they felt were more deserving. Campos-Duffy's list included conservative singer Kid Rock, anti-transgender activist Riley Gaines, members of the U.S. Border Patrol and billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, for "absolutely caring about freedom of speech" (Musk's social media platform, X, punishes users for tweeting the word "cisgender").

"It’s probably more likely to go to Paul Pelosi, Susan Rice and Gavin Newsom,” Hegseth predicted, referring to the former Obama administration official and the governor of California presumed to run for president in 2028. “So I think your list is correct but a little off-brand for ‘Big Joe.’”

"Well maybe Paul Pelosi needs the — the hammer instead of the medal," Campus-Duffy said in response, holding up her hand as if clutching a hammer.

"It's metal," said Hegseth.

"It's metal!" Campus-Duffy said with a laugh.

The attack on Paul Pelosi happened in 2022. Far-right Holocaust denier David DePape was charged after the attack and eventually convicted on two felony counts: Assault on the immediate family member of a federal official, and kidnapping a federal official.

In a DOJ press release, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp said that DePape's attack was the fault of his "misguided ideology," and stated he was confident that Pelosi's attacker "will face the full weight of justice."

"Our public servants and their families deserve to work and live without threats and violence. Defendant’s violent plan to kidnap then-Speaker Pelosi was rooted in his virulent disagreement with her as a result of her official position," U.S. attorney Ismail J. Ramsey said in a public statement. "His violent plan ended with the assault on Mr. Pelosi. Today’s verdict brings justice to the Pelosi family and to the idea that violence has no place in politics."

DePape due to be sentenced on May 17, and faces a maximum potential sentence of 50 years in prison.

Click here to read the Beast's report in full (subscription required).

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