VA Gov. Youngkin sends handwritten apology to Pelosi after remarks about her husband’s attack

Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin sent a handwritten apology to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week, his office confirmed, after the governor made some remarks about the recent violent attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi.

Pelosi’s husband was attacked with a hammer in their San Francisco on October 28 by a suspect who was looking for his wife, the House Speaker. 

In the hours following the breaking news of the attack on 82-year old Paul Pelosi, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said at a campaign rally for another GOP candidate, Yesli Vega, “There’s no room for violence anywhere, but we’re going to send her back to be with him in California.”

Youngkin was quickly criticized by Republicans and Democrats for the remark. “A father, grandfather, and husband is in brain surgery after an act of heinous political violence and at a political rally for my opponent,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). “Our Governor taunts his wife because he disagrees with her politics? I hope he’ll apologize and show humanity towards the Pelosi family.”

A spokesperson for Youngkin provided a statement from the governor on Wednesday, saying, “My full intention on my comments was to categorically state that violence and the kind of violence that was perpetrated against Speaker Pelosi’s husband is not just unacceptable, it’s atrocious. And I didn’t do a great job with that.”

A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi confirmed receipt of the letter from the Virginia governor.