Illustration of the trial of David DePape.VICKI BEHRINGER (Portal)
David DePape, the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi’s house in October 2022, was found guilty this Thursday by a San Francisco court of assault and attempted kidnapping of a federal officer. It took just eight hours for the jury to agree on the responsibility of the suspect who attacked Paul Pelosi, the Democratic politician’s husband, in the head with a hammer. DePape, a 43-year-old Canadian citizen, listened calmly and without reacting to the judge’s reading. He will be sentenced in December but faces up to 50 years in prison.
Nancy Pelosi, who was Speaker of the House of Representatives until November last year, assured in a statement that her 82-year-old husband “continues to make progress in his recovery” a year after the incident and thanked for the expressions of affection received after the attack against she was directed. DePape, a supporter of right-wing conspiracy theories, broke into his apartment in the early morning hours of October 28, 2022, a few days before the midterm elections.
DePape testified during the trial that he planned to dress up as a unicorn, take Pelosi hostage and subject her to a recorded interrogation that he would later upload to the Internet. The attacker wanted to get Pelosi to admit on camera that she had lied to the American people. And if he didn’t agree, he would “break his knees.” When he was arrested, DePape had a rope and plastic handcuffs with him. Officers also found a computer and a tablet.
DePape’s plans collapsed when he entered the residence and learned that there was politics in Washington. Home surveillance cameras show him breaking a window to get into the house. During the trial, Paul Pelosi recalled being awakened by a burly man bursting into his bedroom shouting, “Where’s Nancy?” DePape threatened to tie him up until his wife returned from the East.
“The shock was enormous,” Paul Pelosi told the jury. “I knew I was in serious danger but I tried to stay as calm as possible,” he added from the stands. Pelosi wanted to remain calm even though the intruder had a hammer and ropes in his hands. He was able to call 911 while DePape watched him and ordered him to tell authorities that he was his friend.
The body camera used by the police officers who responded to the call for help was one of the key pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution. The hard images show the police couple arriving at the residence. Pelosi, in her underwear and pajama shirt, opens the door with one hand. With the other he holds the hammer, which is also wielded by DePape. He snatches it from him and hits him on the head with a hammer. The police attack the attacker after the blow. Pelosi said in court that she remembered waking up in a pool of blood.
Join EL PAÍS to follow all the news and read without restrictions.
Subscribe to
The attacker said he was trying to end corruption in the United States government. After completing his questioning of Nancy Pelosi, he would do the same with other political figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son. His plan went beyond Democrats as he targeted actor Tom Hanks and a feminism and gender studies professor who testified against DePape.
On the stand, DePape claimed he believed Paul Pelosi had died. He only found out that his victim was still alive after he was charged by the authorities. “He was never my target, I’m sorry he was hurt,” he said. A neurosurgical doctor testified during the trial that Pelosi needed plates and screws for the two injuries and the skull fracture. DePape faces another trial in local courts on a number of new charges, including assault with a murder weapon, elder abuse and robbery.
Follow all international information on Facebook and Xor in our weekly newsletter.