There was evil in Washington, says man who assaulted Nancy Pelosi’s husband with hammer

David DePape, who broke into US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and allegedly violently assaulted her husband with a hammer, informed the police on Wednesday that “there was evil in Washington” and he was seeking to hurt Pelosi.

DePape has pleaded not responsible to federal and state prices together with tried homicide, housebreaking and elder abuse. (Photo: AP)

By Associated Press: The man accused of attacking the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated there was “evil in Washington” and he was seeking to hurt Pelosi as a result of she is second in line for the presidency, a San Francisco police investigator testified on Wednesday.

The suspect, David DePape, broke into the couple’s San Francisco dwelling October 28, in search of to kidnap the speaker — who was out of city — and as an alternative beat her 82-year-old husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer, authorities stated. The violence despatched shockwaves by the political world.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy dominated that prosecutors had proven sufficient proof throughout a preliminary listening to to maneuver ahead with a trial on the state prices, together with tried homicide. DePape is due again in state court docket on December 28.

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Lt. Carla Hurley, who interviewed DePape for an hour the day of the assault, testified that the defendant informed her of different folks he needed to focus on, together with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks and Hunter Biden, one in all President Joe Biden’s sons. Hurley didn’t say whether or not police had any proof of a plot towards them, and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated after the listening to she couldn’t remark additional.

Authorities had beforehand stated DePape informed investigators he had different targets, however a court docket doc said solely that they had been an area professor in addition to a number of outstanding state and federal politicians and members of their households.

DePape, who appeared in court docket sporting orange jail garments, has pleaded not responsible to federal and state prices, together with tried homicide, housebreaking and elder abuse. He stays held with out bail.

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“There is evil in Washington, what they did went so far beyond the campaign,” DePape informed Hurley, in accordance with a recording of their interview that was performed in court docket.

DePape’s public defender, Adam Lipson, declined to remark after the decide’s ruling, saying, “We’ll be fighting this case in court, not in the hallway.”

In November, Nancy Pelosi stated she would step down as Democrats’ chief within the House after 20 years however stay in workplace. Her official portrait was unveiled Wednesday in Washington because the court docket listening to befell greater than 4,000 kilometers away.

Paul Pelosi, her husband of practically 60 years, joined her for the ceremony on the US Capitol sporting a hat and a glove that lined his accidents from the assault.

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Hurley, who was a sergeant on the time of the assault and was lately promoted to lieutenant, testified that DePape informed Paul Pelosi he needed to speak to Nancy Pelosi as a result of “she is the second in line to the presidency.”

If the US president and the vice chairman turn out to be unable to serve, the speaker of the U.S. House assumes the presidency.

Hurley additionally stated DePape informed her that he was in search of the speaker and informed her husband that he was not a part of the plan.

Still, DePape informed Paul Pelosi, “I can take you out, I can take you out,” Hurley testified.

Hurley stated DePape informed her that after he noticed the lights of a police patrol automobile, he informed Paul Pelosi, “I’m not going to surrender, I am here to fight. If you stop me from going after people, you will take the punishment instead.”

Prosecutors offered the hammer that was allegedly used within the assault throughout Wednesday’s proceedings, which had been attended by Christine Pelosi, one of many Pelosis’ 5 grownup youngsters.

The district legal professional’s workplace additionally performed audio of Paul Pelosi’s 911 name to San Francisco police within the courtroom and confirmed video — lower than a minute lengthy — of the assault that was captured on physique cameras.

DePape (dih-PAP’) informed police he was on a “suicide mission,” court docket paperwork say. Authorities have stated he was drawn to conspiracy theories.

DePape smashed his approach into the Pelosis’ dwelling, confronted Paul Pelosi, who was sleeping in boxer shorts and a pajama high, and demanded to know the place “Nancy” was, in accordance with court docket paperwork.

DePape then informed Paul Pelosi that if Nancy Pelosi informed him the “truth,” he would let her go and if she “lied,” he was going to interrupt her kneecaps, ” the legal criticism alleges.

San Francisco Police Officer Kyle Cagney, who was one in all two first responding officers testified Wednesday that he noticed each males holding the hammer when the door opened. DePape didn’t obey officers’ instructions to drop the weapon and as an alternative lunged at Paul Pelosi and swung the hammer at him, Cagney stated.

Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious and awakened in a pool of his personal blood. He later underwent surgical procedure to restore a cranium fracture and severe accidents to his proper arm and palms.

The speaker was in Washington on the time and below the safety of her safety element, which doesn’t prolong to members of the family.

Published On:

Dec 15, 2022