Paul Pelosi immediately knew he was “in serious danger” when he awoke to a large, unknown man standing in his bedroom carrying a hammer and zip ties, he testified in San Francisco Federal Court Monday.
“He was standing in the doorway and I thought he was three, four feet away from me,” Pelosi said at the trial of David DePape, who is accused of assaulting her.
Pelosi gave her version of the horrific ordeal when DePape, 43, broke into her home shortly after 2 a.m. on Oct. 28. 2022.
He demanded to know the whereabouts of Pelosi’s wife, former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“He said, ‘Where’s Nancy’ because I think that woke me up,” Pelosi said. “I was sleeping and he burst in the door and that woke me up.”
Paul Pelosi leaves San Francisco federal court after testifying Nov. 13.David G. McIntyre Image from San Francisco Police Department body-worn camera video capturing DePape holding the hammer, which he allegedly used to attack Paul Pelosi, 83, inside. his home in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022. AP Paul Pelosi poses during a portrait unveiling ceremony for his wife, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Washington, DC on Dec. 14, 2022. AP
Nancy Pelosi was in Washington DC at the time of the attack.
DePape allegedly later told detectives he had planned to take the former Speaker of the House hostage and “break his knee cap.”
During the strange interaction that followed, Pelosi managed to call 911 and told the dispatcher, “This guy just came into the house and wanted to wait here until my wife got home and, anyway, he told me to put the phone down.”
The dispatcher was aware of a possible threat even though Pelosi remained calm and police were dispatched to the home.
Pelosi said she knew her best chance of survival was to go downstairs and see the police.
Pelosi testified that she told DePape: “Since all your stuff is downstairs, why don’t we go downstairs, you can tie me up and you can sleep,” according to NBC News.
Paul Pelosi leaves San Francisco federal court after testifying against David DePape on Monday David G. McIntyre police tape blocks the road outside the home of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28. 2022. Prosecutors say David DePape broke into the house around 2 a.m. looking for Nancy Pelosi, but found her husband instead.AP
Once they opened the door to officers, DePape grabbed the hammer and hit Paul with it, body camera video shows.
FBI Special Agent Stephanie Minor testified Monday about the video showing DePape hitting Paul Pelosi at least three times.
Prosecutors also played video footage from police body-worn cameras showing paramedics helping Pelosi, who was face down on the floor.
As one paramedic held a white towel over Pelosi’s head, another placed a neck and head brace on the 83-year-old before he was placed on a stretcher.
Pelosi’s face and hands were covered in blood.
Assistant US Attorney Laura Vartain asked Pelosi what she remembered and she said: “Woke up in a pool of blood.”
Pelosi suffered a fractured skull and serious cuts to her right arm and hand in the attack and was hospitalized for several days for treatment.
Although he has made public appearances with his wife, he said in January he was “making progress, but it will take more time,” before he is back to normal.
DePape’s defense attorney, Lori Linker, told jurors during her opening statement last week that the case was not a “whodunnit,” but jurors must figure out why her client attacked Pelosi.
David DePape is shown in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 13. 2013. DePape faces multiple charges, including attempted kidnapping of a federal official. AP
He claimed DePape truly believed he was trying to save the world from a secret cabal of high-profile pedophiles.
He also repeats the right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory and has a list of “targets”, including Nancy Pelosi because he believes she is the “face” of the Democratic Party and uses the mainstream media as his “weapon”.
His other intended targets included actor Tom Hanks, President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to court documents obtained by The Post.
DePape has also posted rants on blogs and online forums on subjects including aliens, communists, religious minorities and global elites.
In this file photo taken on April 23, 2019, former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul Pelosi arrive for the Time 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York.AFP via Getty Images
DePape is on trial on charges of assaulting a federal official’s immediate family member and attempted kidnapping of a federal official.
He also faces charges of attempted murder in a separate state case. He pleaded not guilty in both cases.
A Canadian, DePape moved to the United States more than 20 years ago after falling in love with Gypsy Taub, an activist known for her pro-nudity stance.
Taub, who was in court Monday, told The Post DePape was not the type to use violence.
“She was a very shy and sweet person who would never raise her voice,” Taub said. “He’s afraid of power and won’t honk if he’s cut off [in traffic]. He is the last person to do something like this, especially in front of the police.”
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
