The man accused of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home, hitting her husband with a hammer and trying to kidnap him appeared in court Thursday.
Opening statements are scheduled in the federal trial of David DePape who prosecutors say assaulted 82-year-old Paul Pelosi, sending shockwaves through the political world just days before last year’s midterm elections.
The attack in the early morning hours of October 28, 2022, also highlights how conspiracy theories and misinformation spread online can fuel political violence.
DePape pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assaulting a federal official’s immediate family member. Paul Pelosi is expected to testify next week.
DePape posted rants on blogs and online forums about aliens, communists, religious minorities and global elites.
He questioned the results of the 2020 election and repeated the baseless right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory that claims the US government is run by a group of satan-worshipping pedophiles.
Suspect David DePape is shown attacking Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, at their home in San Francisco on Oct. 28. 2022. San Francisco Police Department/AFP via Getty Images
The website was taken down shortly after his arrest.
A Canadian, DePape moved to the United States more than 20 years ago after falling in love with Gypsy Taub, a prominent Berkeley pro-nudity activist in the Bay Area, said her stepfather, Gene DePape.
In recent years, David DePape has been homeless and struggled with drug abuse and mental illness, Taub told local media.
A pair of FBI agents work outside the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28. 2022. AP
Federal prosecutors said DePape smashed his shoulder through a glass panel on the back door of the Pelosis’ Pacific Heights mansion and confronted a sleeping Paul Pelosi, who was wearing boxer shorts and a nightgown.
“Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?” DePape asked, standing over Paul Pelosi around 2 a.m. clutching a hammer and zip ties, according to court records. Nancy Pelosi is in Washington and under the protection of her security detail, which is not provided to family members.
Paul Pelosi called 911 and two San Francisco Police officers showed up and witnessed DePape strike Paul Pelosi in the head with a hammer, knocking him unconscious, court records show.
A police officer rolls out more yellow tape on a closed street below the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco, on Oct. 28. 2022. AP
Nancy Pelosi’s 60-year-old husband later underwent surgery to repair a fractured skull and injuries to his right arm and hand.
After his arrest, DePape, 43, allegedly told a San Francisco detective that he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage.
He said that if she told him the truth, he would let her go and if she lied, he would “break his kneecap” to show other members of Congress there were “consequences for actions,” according to prosecutors.
Paul Pelosi underwent surgery to repair a fractured skull and injuries to his right arm and hand. AFP via Getty Images
The backpack DePape was carrying had tape and straps, in addition to zip ties, according to police.
The attack was captured on the officer’s body camera.
US District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley ruled last month that jurors would be allowed to see footage showing Paul Pelosi in his own blood pool struggling to breathe and police officers trying to stop the bleeding.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leaves her San Francisco home with her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco.David G. McIntyre
Angela Chuang, one of DePape’s federal public defenders, has argued that the shocking footage will harm her client.
Corley also ruled jurors could hear part of a 5-minute call DePape made in January to a television reporter in which he repeated the conspiracy theory.
“Freedom and freedom do not die, they are killed systematically and deliberately,” he said.
A police car blocks the road below the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28. 2022. AP
“The tree of freedom needs water. He needs brave people, patriots who are willing to risk their own lives to stand against tyranny,” he added.
Katherine Keneally, senior researcher at the non-profit Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said the attack was an example of the rise of online hate, conspiracies and false narratives influencing political violence.
“This doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” Keneally said.
David DePape pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on Paul Pelosi. San Francisco Police Department/AFP via Getty Images
Keneally said people who commit acts of violence motivated by such conspiracies are often struggling with mental health or other life crises, such as the death of a family member or divorce.
“I can’t think of a single case where someone engaged in violent behavior where they were only swayed by conspiracy theories,” he said.
DePape, who lives in a garage in the Bay Area city of Richmond and has done odd carpentry jobs to support himself, allegedly told authorities he had other targets, including a women’s and queer studies professor, California’s Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks and the President’s son Joe Biden, Hunter.
One of those targets was included in the defense’s short witness list, although their names have been redacted.
Other possible witnesses are DePape, Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff Daniel Bernal, extremism and antisemitism researcher Elizabeth Yates, and federal public defender Catherine Goulet.
The list of potential prosecution witnesses contains 15 names, including the surgeon who operated on Paul Pelosi, federal agents, San Francisco police officers and several first responders.
If convicted, DePape faces up to life in prison.
He was also charged in state court with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other crimes.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. A state hearing has not been scheduled.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
