NBC correspondent Miguel Almaguer returns after Paul Pelosi segment (2024)

NBC News correspondent Miguel Almaguer, who was suspended last month after a false report on Paul Pelosi, returned Monday to deliver a weather update on the Today show.

Almaguer, 45, last appeared on the show when he presented a different narrative for the shocking hammer attack on Mr Pelosi that had occurred days earlier.

The Today show regular implied Mr Pelosi, 82, may not have been in immediate danger when police arrived at his $8million San Francisco home, and that he was well enough to open the door for police.

Almaguer's version of events picked up steam online before NBC retracted it without giving an explanation other than it did not meet the standards of the institution.

Fox News reportedthat Almaguer was suspended, but won't admit it on the record, and claimed his source was 'biased.'

NBC refused to explain how the story on Mr Pelosi was inaccurate but a similar version from an NBC Bay Area correspondent was not retracted.

Some observers following the story believed NBC yanked Almaguer from air because his story contradicted the mainstream narrative of the Pelosi incident that was in circulation just days before the midterm election.

Almaguer did not comment on his absence or post on his Twitter account during his suspension.

His extended period off was not addressed when he returned Monday to deliver a 'coast-to-coast' winter storm update.

In his initial report, Almaguer said over footage of the four-bedroom Pelosi family home: 'NBC News learning new details about the moments police arrived.

'Sources familiar with what unfolded in the Pelosi residence now revealing when officers responded to the high priority call they were seemingly unaware they had been called to the home of the Speaker of the House.

'After a knock and announce the front door was opened by Mr. Pelosi. The 82-year-old did not immediately declare an emergency or try to leave his home, but instead began walking several feet back into the foyer toward the assailant and away from police.'

The correspondent added: 'It's unclear if the 82-year-old was already injured or what his mental state was, say sources.

'According to court documents, when the officer asked what was going on 'defendant smiled and said that everything's good' but instantaneously a struggle ensued as police clearly saw David DePape strike Paul Pelosi in the head with a hammer.

'After tackling the suspect, officers rushed to Mr. Pelosi who was lying in a pool of blood.'

The footage then cut to Almaguer on screen saying: 'Law enforcement officials tell us the bottom line here is this is a terrifying situation.

'We still don't know exactly what unfolded between Mr Pelosi and the suspect for the 30 minutes they were alone inside the house before police arrived. Officials who were investigating this matter would not go into further details about these new details.'

The above retracted report was closely mirrored by a story from NBC Bay Area correspondent Bigad Shaban that also raised questions about the attack. Shaban's report is still available online.

Shaban cleared up conflicting official reports about who opened the door to officers. In a federal indict, the DOJ said that it was the police.

But, he added: 'The San Francisco District Attorney's Office, in another court document that was filed earlier this month, said Mr Pelosi opened the door with his left hand.

'So the question is, what really happened?

'According to a source familiar with the investigation who personally watched the police body camera footage from that night, officers knocked on the door of the Pelosi home and then backed away. And the video clearly shows Paul Pelosi open the door with his left hand.'

He continued: 'Also as written in the DA docs, the source tells us the bodycam video shows officers having a brief conversation with Pelosi and David DePape, the man accused of breaking into the Pelosi home, before DePape starts beating Pelosi with a hammer.'

Shaban also tackled the question of why Pelosi didn't rush out the door to safety as soon as officers arrived.

Interviewing San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, he said: 'The case has obviously garnered a fair share of conspiracy theories about what actually happened that night.

'As part of your investigation are you able to shed any light as to why Paul Pelosi didn't run out of the house towards police officers when he was able to actually open the door for them when they arrived?'

Jenkins replied: 'Everybody reacts to situations differently and he will one day need to explain to potentially a jury why he did what he did and what thought process was going on in his mind.'

Back in the studio, Shaban again questioned why the Department of Justice filed a federal document saying officers opened the door, when it was Pelosi.

'Our source who has seen the police bodycam video can't understand why the federal investigators wrote that the officers opened the door. Because they say the video shows officers didn't.

'But when two police agencies give slightly different accounts of what happened in this high profile case it just feeds into conspiracy theories and that's what we're seeing right now on social media.'

Nancy Pelosi, 82, was in Washington at the time of the attack and was the intended target, according to the indictment against DePape filed in the US District Court in the Northern District of California.

Her husband made his 911 call about 2.23am, saying a man had broken into his home looking for his wife and he was waiting for her return.

During the two-minute phone call, the indictment says, Pelosi made clear he did not know the man - even as DePape could be heard in the background saying his name is 'David' and he is a 'friend'.

Towards the end of the call - after a dispatcher agreed to stay on the line with Paul - he told police that the man wanted him to 'get the hell off the phone'.

When police arrived moments later, they saw DePape wearing shorts, running shoes and a sweatshirt and carrying a hammer.

After an officer asked what was happening, it is alleged, DePape replied that 'everything is good,' even as he continued to circle Pelosi.

An officer then yelled at him to 'drop the hammer,' to which he allegedly replied: 'Umm nope.'

That is when, the indictment says, DePape pulled the hammer over his head, grabbed Pelosi and swung it 'abruptly and forcefully' at the victim.

In total, the indictment says, the entire attack lasted 15 seconds.