Paul Pelosi, the husband of the United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been attacked on Friday at the couple’s San Francisco home.

A hammer-wielding man assaulted the 82-year-old Pelosi during a break-in early on Friday.

“Pelosi was taken to hospital and is expected to make a full recovery,” the Speaker’s office said.

The man arrested at the scene, David Depape, 42, reportedly shouted “Where is Nancy?” before the attack.

The attacker told police he was “waiting for Nancy” when they arrived at the scene.

Mrs Pelosi was in Washington, and not at the San Francisco residence, when the incident took place.

“The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time,” a spokesman for the senior Democrat said.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said Depape will be charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and several other criminal charges.

The residence is a three-storey red brick townhouse in the affluent Pacific Heights neighbourhood.

Aerial photos showed shattered glass on a door at the rear of the house.

Streets around the residence were closed off on Friday morning.

The assault has raised fears about political violence ahead of the November 8 midterm elections.

The Star