J.D. Vance, the Republican candidate for Ohio Senate, is calling it a “problem” that an attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s husband has become a political issue, saying the focus should be on the immigration status of the alleged assailant.

Vance made the remarks Tuesday when a townhall event sponsored by Fox News turned to the topic of political violence. Democratic candidate Tim Ryan had earlier in the event linked the assault on Paul Pelosi last week to threats and violence carried out by right-wing extremists. Vance, who is locked in a pivotal race with Ryan, said the real issue is the hot-button political topic of immigration.

Vance stressed that he condemned the attack on Pelosi, 82, at his home in San Francisco that left him hospitalized. Police have arrested David DePape, who faces charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and others stemming from the attack.

“I think the effort to turn this into a political issue actually is a real problem here because Paul Pelosi was attacked by a person who’s an illegal alien in our country and should not have been here in the first place,” said Vance. “My view very simply is that we need to deport violent illegal aliens.”

Fox News, citing anonymous sources, reported on Friday that DePape is a Canadian citizen who is in the country illegally after overstaying his visa. The reporting has not been confirmed by federal immigration authorities.

Vance, a venture capitalist and author, was earlier endorsed by former President Donald Trump, whose presidency was marked by a hardline stance on immigration that included plans for a border wall with Mexico. During his race for the Senate, which could determine which party controls the chamber, Vance has called for tightening controls on immigration.

Ryan, earlier during the townhall, placed the attack on Pelosi alongside other acts of political violence, including the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in which a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol grounds to prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election.

J.D. Vance, the Republican Senate nominee for Ohio, speaks at a townhall-style debate hosted by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum of Fox News at The Fives on November 1, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Vance said the recent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband should not be considered political.
Andrew Spear/Getty Images

Ryan, a current Ohio representative who sits on a subcommittee that funds the Capitol Police, drew boos from the crowd as he described how 140 officers responding to the attack were injured and one killed.

Ryan continued that the mob also targeted then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“Now, somebody’s beating up Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer,” said Ryan, who called out Vance for his social media posts seeking to raise money for people charged with attacking the Capitol.

Following the attack on Paul Pelosi, reports have emerged that DePape was steeped in right-wing conspiracy theories, including the claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and the QAnon movement. DePape told police he intended to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and demand she tell the “truth” or he would break her kneecaps with a hammer.

Vance said during the townhall that the attack on Pelosi is “not reflective of Republicans.”

“It’s reflective of the fact that we let way too many violent people live freely in our country,” he said.

Newsweek reached out to the Vance campaign for comment.

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