The suspect in the house invasion, beating of Nancy Pelosi’s husband, and attempted kidnapping claimed police he was on a “suicide mission” and intended to kill other US officials. He is also accused of breaking into Nancy Pelosi’s home and beating her husband.
During his arraignment in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday (US time), David DePape was instructed to remain in custody without a bond. In his first public appearance since the Friday attack, his public defender pleaded not guilty on his behalf.
Prosecutors described the assault in graphic detail in the court document. The lawsuit said that Paul Pelosi was struck by the hammer, rendered unconscious, and awoke in a pool of blood.
According to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, DePape’s aim “could not have been clearer.”
He broke into the Pelosi home with the intent to hold the person third in line for the US presidency hostage and gravely damage her.
Despite Speaker Pelosi’s absence, the defendant persisted in his mission and would not let up, which led to his attack on Mr. Pelosi that almost killed him.
DePape informed the police and medical personnel at the scene that he was tired of the “lies coming out of Washington DC” without being questioned.
I genuinely didn’t want to injure him, but this was a suicide mission, you know. I’m not going to stand here and do nothing even if it cost me my life,” he said at the time.
According to reports, DePape told first responders that he also had a local professor, a number of well-known state and federal lawmakers, and members of their families as targets. There were no possible targets mentioned in the document.
Jenkins penned, “This case merits custody.” There is no less.
DePape only spoke once at his arraignment on Tuesday to instruct Judge Diane Northway how to pronounce his last name (dih-PAP’). He was dressed in orange jail garb and had his right arm in a sling.
DePape’s public defender Adam Lipson expressed excitement about giving him a “vigorous legal defence” following the hearing. He said that during the arrest, his 42-year-old client’s shoulder was dislocated.
We’ll be investigating Mr. DePape’s mental health, and I won’t say anything more until I get more information, Lipson added.
Later, he expressed his satisfaction with Paul Pelosi’s progress and pleaded with the public to refrain from making snap decisions on what he called “a delicate matter.”
Just days before the fiercely contested midterm elections, the assault on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi shocked the political community. With this being the first national election since the riots in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021, threats against lawmakers and electoral officials have reached an all-time high.
State prosecutors have accused DePape with attempted murder, burglary, and elder abuse. Federal allegations against him also include attempting to kidnap a US official.
Jenkins earlier told journalists that the assault seemed planned.
She said, “This was not something he did on the spur of the moment.
The court filing said DePape smashed his shoulder through a glass window in the back of the Pelosis’ home before confronting a sleeping Paul Pelosi, wearing only boxer shorts and a pyjama top.
Paul Pelosi, who? Around two in the morning, DePape approached him while wielding a hammer and zip ties. Who is Nancy? Nancy whereabouts? ”
A groggy Pelosi told DePape that his wife was not home and would be gone for several days. DePape then allegedly threatened to tie Paul Pelosi up – the first of 10 such threats, the filing says.
Eventually, Paul Pelosi was able to make a 911 call from the bathroom of the house, where his cell phone was charging.
DePape told Pelosi to hang up while waving to the dispatcher, according to the filing.
Then, Pelosi informed the dispatcher that he didn’t require emergency assistance from the police, fire department, or medical staff and instead requested “for the Capitol Police because they are normally at the house protecting his wife.
Paul Pelosi remarked, “He thinks everything’s good, I’ve got an issue, but he thinks everything’s good,” when the dispatcher overheard him speaking to a man a short while later.
Two responding police saw DePape strike Pelosi at least once in the head with a hammer, according to the affidavit. The assault, according to Jenkins, was recorded on the police’ body cams.
While in Washington at the time, Speaker Pelosi promptly made her way back to San Francisco, where her husband was being treated in the hospital for a skull fracture and other wounds.
Suspect in Pelosi attack was on “suicide mission,” according to US sources
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