NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson mocks attack that sent Pelosi’s husband to hospital

The role of a lieutenant governor in North Carolina doesn’t come with a lot of power compared to other states, but it does come with attention. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson garnered more on Monday by sharing a Spirit Halloween costume meme that makes fun of the assault of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband.

Robinson is expected to seek the Republican nomination in the 2024 North Carolina governor’s race and has made headlines for his anti-LGBTQ comments, support for a bill that regulates how race is taught in schools, and campaign to ban some books from school libraries. He also frequently speaks at Trump rallies.

Paul Pelosi, 82, husband of the Democratic speaker, was allegedly assaulted at the couple’s San Francisco home last week by a man who has been arrested on several state and federal charges, including attempted murder and attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official because of their duties, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. According to a federal complaint, David DePape, 42, is accused of breaking into the Pelosi home with zip ties, tape and rope in a backpack, AP reported, and going upstairs to the sleeping Paul Pelosi demanding to talk to Nancy Pelosi, then attacking him with a hammer.

In the weeks before Halloween, a popular social media meme depicted a Spirit Halloween store costume with Photoshopped images and text. One began circulating depicting an attacker in underwear holding a hammer.

WRAL reported Robinson’s post, shared over the weekend, on Monday. On Robinson’s personal Facebook page, he publicly shared the meme in a post and wrote, “I’m sorry Paul I don’t believe you or the press!!!!” As of Tuesday afternoon, Robinson’s post had been shared more than 2,000 times. He has more than 132,000 followers on his personal page.

The Associated Press has fact-checked conspiracy theories and inaccuracies around the attack that have been amplified by some politicians.

In a statement shared on her U.S. Speaker of the House page on Monday, Nancy Pelosi thanked people for their concern.

“Since the horrific attack on Paul early Friday, we have been deluged with thousands of messages conveying concern, prayers and warm wishes. We are most grateful,” Pelosi said. “Thanks to the excellent trauma care medical team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Paul is making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process. Our family thanks everyone for their kindness,” she said.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, condemned the attack.

“The attack on Paul Pelosi is beyond disgusting and reprehensible. Praying for his complete recovery and I’m glad law enforcement has arrested the perpetrator. Violence never has a place in our political system, we air our differences with debate and settle them at the ballot box,” Tillis wrote on Twitter.

Robinson’s expected Democratic opponent in the 2024 gubernatorial race is state Attorney General Josh Stein. Neither Robinson nor Stein have announced their candidacies.

“This Facebook post by LG Mark Robinson that mocks the violent attack against Paul Pelosi is disgusting and dangerous,” Stein wrote on Twitter. “We need our elected officials to keep us safe, bring us together as Americans, & condemn political violence, not throw fuel on its flames.”

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