An intruder attacked the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer and fractured his skull after breaking into their California home in search of her on Friday.

Paul Pelosi was “assaulted at home by an assailant who used violence and threatened his life while demanding to see the speaker,” Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said.

Paul Pelosi, 82 – who underwent surgery and is recovering in hospital – was home alone as his wife worked in Washington.

San Francisco police said officers found the attacker just before 2:30 a.m. (0930 GMT) at the couple’s home, where he and Paul Pelosi were tussling over a gavel.

“The suspect pulled the gavel away from Mr. Pelosi and used it to brutally assault him,” San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott told reporters.

He named the attacker 42-year-old David Depape but declined to answer questions and gave few other details.

US media, citing family sources, reported the intruder told Paul Pelosi he would tie him up and wait for the speaker to come home.

The victim managed to dial 911 while the man was distracted, according to cable network MSNBC.

Local media had previously reported that the intruder shouted “Where’s Nancy?” during the attack, but police told reporters a motive has not yet been determined.

Scott said Depape faces attempted manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and other crimes.

“Mr. Pelosi was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where he underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured skull and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” the spokesman’s spokesman added.

“His doctors expect a full recovery.”

Nancy Pelosi – who is second in line for the presidency – and the couple’s five children are set to return to San Francisco to be by his side.

President Joe Biden called the Democrat, also 82, to express support for the “horrific attack” and prayed for her husband, the White House said.

“He is … very happy that a full recovery is expected. The President continues to condemn all violence and demands that the family’s desire for privacy be respected,” Biden’s spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

The intruder broke in through a sliding glass door, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed police officers, leaving injuries to his head and body.

He has taken far-right positions on social media, including conspiracy theories about Covid-19, one of the daily’s officials said.

With less than two weeks to go before the crucial US midterm elections, members of both parties have sounded the alarm over the potential for political violence.

According to Washington’s Capitol Police, threats against lawmakers have more than doubled since 2017 to nearly 10,000 in 2021.

Members of both parties rallied to support Pelosi on social media, with several suggesting the attack was the inevitable result of an increase in violent political rhetoric.

Adam Kinzinger, a Republican member of the House committee investigating the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, blamed the radicalization of some supporters on conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump and his far-right supporters.

“I want to be clear: if you convince people that politicians are rigging elections, drinking baby blood, etc., you will get violence. That must be rejected,” he said of Friday’s attack.

Republican House Speaker Steve Scalise said he was “disgusted” by the attack.

Paul Pelosi was sentenced to five days in prison for drunk driving after an accident in May.