SAN FRANCISCO – The man who allegedly broke into the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and assaulted her husband, Paul Pelosi, in October pleaded not guilty Wednesday to six charges, including attempted murder, prosecutors said.
David DePape, 42, broke into Pelosi’s home on Oct. 28 with a political vendetta against the Democratic Speaker, who was in Washington at the time, authorities said. He assaulted Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer, leaving him with a skull fracture and arm and hand injuries, all of which required surgery, police added.
Paul Pelosi was hospitalized for a week. Since being discharged, he has been seen in public wearing a hat and a glove that covered his wounds.
The attack, less than two years after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, stunned the political world.
“It is certainly something that has unnerved us all,” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters last month, referring to tragedies with past political leaders such as the 1978 assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and city Supervisor Harvey Milk. “It’s something we have to take very seriously.”
The FBI said DePape intended to confront Nancy Pelosi, hold her hostage and break her kneecaps if she lied to him, as he expected.
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“DePape also later explained that by breaking Nancy’s kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,’’ an FBI affidavit said.
In addition to attempted murder, prosecutors charged DePape with assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, residential burglary, elder abuse, and threatening a family member of a public official. He is being held without bail.
During a preliminary hearing earlier this month, a San Francisco police investigator testified that DePape said there was “evil in Washington,” and he was looking to harm Nancy Pelosi because she is second in line for the presidency. Authorities have said DePape was drawn to conspiracy theories.
DePape is due in court Feb. 23, when a trial date is expected to be set. He faces 13 years to life in prison if convicted.
After the midterm elections in November, Nancy Pelosi said she would step down as the party’s House leader but would remain in office.
Contributing: Terry Collins and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
USA TODAY
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