Paul Pelosi’s attacker David DePape wept on the witness stand Tuesday and apologized for hitting the House Speaker’s husband, but admitted he wanted to interrogate Nancy and would have been prepared to break her kneecaps if she were home would have been.
David DePape, a former nudist from Canada, entered the Pelosi mansion in San Francisco through a back door in the early hours of October 28, 2022 and beat former House Speaker Nancy Paul’s 82-year-old husband.
The attack – which DePape’s defense attorney has admitted he committed – resulted in Paul Pelosi being hospitalized with a fractured skull.
On Tuesday, DePape admitted in court that he regretted hurting Pelosi in the incident and only reacted because his “plan was ruined.”
According to DePape, he planned to question the Speaker of the House of Representatives at her home about “Russiagate” while wearing a unicorn outfit that he had packed in his bag – and intended to post the interaction online.
DePape, obsessed with conspiracy theories, pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and attempted murder.
In court Tuesday, DePape said he was seen learning about politics from YouTube videos, podcasts and video games
Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, leaves the courthouse in San Francisco on Monday after testifying against David DePape
When speaking in court about his attack on Paul Pelosi, he recalled telling Pelosi, “I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t want you to get in the way either.”
In the courtroom, DePape said, “Because he called the police, he was the only one who could essentially withdraw them.”
“I was hoping he could take it back to end things in a way that wouldn’t lead to violence.”
“He was a very kind gentleman. I just squeezed his shoulder to calm him down.’
DePape also added that he “really felt bad for her” after his attack on Pelosi.
He told the court: “As he lay bleeding on the floor I was very afraid for his life. “I really felt sorry for him because we had a really good relationship until the last second.
“I reacted because my plan had essentially failed. He was never the target and I’m sorry he got hurt.
According to DePape, his intention was to ask Nancy Pelosi a question about Russiagate.
He told the court: “I wanted to ask her a question about Russiagate, film it and post it online.”
I planned to wear the unicorn costume and record it with the body camera I was given. I kind of expected her to accompany me and tell me what I wanted to hear.
“The big plan was to eventually reveal everything about Hunter Biden.”
DePape also admitted that he was prepared to break Nancy Pelosi’s kneecaps if she didn’t tell the truth during his expected interrogation.
David DePape didn’t bat an eyelid when he viewed body camera footage of himself with Paul Pelosi at the Pelosi home in San Francisco
Here, DePape is seen swinging the gavel at Paul Pelosi (right), resulting in two open skull fractures and bleeding from his scalp
Paul Pelosi is seen testifying on Monday while David DePape (left) listens
When asked about the night he entered the Pelosi House, DePape recalled, “I started to worry that no one was home. ‘He actually kind of woke up and startled me.’
I asked him if Nancy Pelosi was here and he said she wasn’t here. I asked when she would be back, he said [the] Weekend.
“At this point I was still hoping to implement that part of the plan. He sat on it [the] Bed intimidated.
“I thought, why don’t I tie you up and sleep?” He got into the elevator and turned to the phone.
“I got in the elevator with him, turned to him and asked him: Do you really want to try this?”
DePape also said he was “surprised and confused” about what to do next after finding out Pelosi wasn’t home.
Under cross-examination by prosecutor Laura Vartain Horn, DePape was asked whether he intended to incite violence in the apartment.
In response, he said, “It wasn’t my intention, but it was a possibility.”
Asked if he planned to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage with rope and duct tape, he said: “I would say no, that’s a miscalculation.”
However, during cross-examination, he admitted that he was ready to knee-jerk the Speaker of the House.
Aerial footage showed broken windows and shattered glass at the back door of Pelosi’s home
DePape previously spoke about how playing video games and watching YouTube videos sparked his interest in politics.
He said the Gamergate fiasco “introduced him to the culture wars.” Gamergate was a right-wing backlash against feminism and diversity in video game culture.
DePape also spoke about how he “believed that 9/11 was an inside job” and that he thought former President Donald Trump was “another puppet.” [George] Bush.’
At one point, DePape burst into tears and had to be comforted by a defense attorney who gave him a tissue.
He then also said, “I love Hunter Biden. He is so obviously corrupt. He doesn’t even try to hide his nepotism.’
The court also heard on Tuesday from neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Huang from Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco.
Dr. Huang told the court that he was the neurosurgeon on call the night Pelosi was attacked.
According to Dr. Huang Pelosi suffered two open skull fractures and bled from his scalp.
Huang said Pelosi was lucid the entire time and operated on him around 4 a.m., discovering a two-inch gash under his hair.
Dr. Huang said the laceration extended through the entire thickness of the scalp, reaching down to the bone.
The court was shown gruesome images of Pelosi with her head shaved after surgery and the crack in his skull visible.
Pelosi was also red with blood and bruises and suffered cuts to her right arm.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner at the State Department on December 7, 2019
DePape wore a light blue shirt and dark blue sweater during jury selection
On Monday, Pelosi said in court that he tried not to think or talk about the events of October 2022.
Pelosi, 83, described the moment he was awakened before dawn on Oct. 28 and said it was the first time he had told the story.
“The door opened and a very, very tall man walked in with a hammer in one hand and some ties in the other,” Pelosi told the court, speaking calmly but with emotion in her voice.
“He said, ‘Where’s Nancy?’ He stormed to the door and woke me up.”
Pelosi testified for about an hour, telling the court about his efforts to alert 911 to the threat without urging DePape to attack him.
He described negotiating with DePape to go downstairs, where Pelosi hoped he would be rescued by police. And he talked about “waking up in a pool of blood.”
Pelosi also told the court that his wife was in Washington DC on the night of October 27 and her security detail was with her to protect her around the clock.
DePape is seen on security camera footage outside the Pelosi mansion at 5 a.m. on October 28.
Earlier Monday, authorities shared records of DePape’s Amazon purchases in the months before the attacks that he took to the crime scene.
These included a camping backpack, computer cables, body cameras, crayons and two scary unicorn costumes.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that he planned to wear the unicorn costume while questioning Nancy Pelosi.
Prosecutors also played a recording of a call DePage later made to a news reporter in which he said, “I have an important message for everyone in America. You’re welcome.”
A screenshot of security footage shows DePape outside the Pelosi House in the early morning hours of October 28, 2022
Pelosi told the court he was horrified to find the imposing stranger in his room, saying: “It was a great shock to realize that someone had broken into the house.”
“When I looked at him and the hammer and the ties, I realized I was in serious danger. And so I tried to stay as calm as possible. I said she’s not here.’
Pelosi said DePape told him they were waiting for her to return and he would have to “tie you up” while they waited.
Pelosi continued: “I realized it was a very serious situation.” I tried to remain as calm as possible. “The first thing I tried to do after some back and forth with him was get up and try to get to the elevator.”
He said DePape “blocked me” as he tried to get to the elevator.
“I went back in and sat on the bed,” Pelosi said. “We had a conversation about him saying she was the leader of the pack and he had to get her out.”
Pelosi said he got up, went to the bathroom where his cellphone was charging and called 911.
DePape took the phone from him and told him he was tired – so Pelosi seized the moment.
“He basically said I’m tired and I’m going to get some sleep.” “So I’m going to tie you up and get some sleep,” Pelosi recalled.
“I said, ‘Okay, I understand if that’s what you want to do.’ I said since all your stuff is downstairs, why don’t we go downstairs and you can tie me downstairs so you can go to sleep?” ‘
Pelosi said when they got downstairs, DePape realized police were on their way.
“He said the police are here, it’s over for me, I have to get you out,” Pelosi recalled.
Paul Pelosi was struck multiple times with the gavel and remained unconscious as officers rushed in and arrested DePape
The Phillip Burton Federal Building and the U.S. Courthouse where the federal trial of David DePape is underway is pictured Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in San Francisco
Pelosi continued: “When I opened the door I thought, thank God the police were here.”
“And there was this huge guy with a hammer in his hand. I didn’t know what would happen next.
“I turned around and tried to put my hand on his hand, on the hammer, and he pushed me to the side and hit me in the head.”
If convicted, DePape faces life in prison. He also pleaded not guilty in state court to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other crimes.
A state trial is not planned.