By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ (Related Press)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Paul Pelosi recounted publicly for the primary time Monday what occurred the night time he was attacked by a person within the San Francisco house he shares with former U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, recalling how stunning it was to see a person standing at his bed room door, then how the person whacked him within the head with a hammer.
“It was an amazing sense of shock to acknowledge that any individual had damaged into the home and him and searching on the hammer and the ties, I acknowledged that I used to be in severe hazard, so I attempted to remain as calm as attainable,” Pelosi informed jurors as he testified within the trial of David DePape, who’s proven on video finishing up the assault.
Prosecutors say DePape bludgeoned Pelosi within the early hours of Oct. 28, 2022, simply days earlier than the midterm elections, and that he had rope and zip ties with him. DePape has pleaded not responsible to tried kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the rapid member of the family of a federal official with intent to retaliate in opposition to the official for efficiency of their duties.
Protection legal professional Jodi Linker informed jurors final week that she gained’t dispute that DePape attacked Pelosi. As a substitute, she’s going to argue that DePape believed “with each ounce of his being” that he was taking motion to cease authorities corruption, the erosion of freedom in america, and the abuse of kids by politicians and actors. She mentioned meaning the federal government’s costs that DePape was attempting to retaliate or intervene with Nancy Pelosi’s official duties don’t match.
Paul Pelosi’s testimony got here on the trial’s second day, after prosecutors introduced ahead FBI brokers who collected the electronics DePape was carrying and searched the room he lives in, a U.S. Capitol police officer who watches the surveillance cameras on the Pelosis’ house and one other who has protected Nancy Pelosi since 2006, a Bay Space Speedy Transit police sergeant, and a digital forensics skilled.
Pelosi mentioned he has not mentioned the assault with anybody and has inspired his household to not as nicely “as a result of it has been too traumatic.”
The Pelosis’ house has an alarm system with movement detectors, however Pelosi mentioned he by no means put it on when he was house alone as a result of his actions would set off it.
He recalled being woke up by a person bursting into the bed room door asking, “The place’s Nancy?” He mentioned that when he responded that his spouse was in Washington, DePape mentioned he would tie him up whereas they waited for her.
“We had some dialog with him saying she was the chief of the pack, he needed to take her out, and that he was going to attend for her,” Paul Pelosi mentioned.
Earlier, prosecutors performed police physique digital camera footage exhibiting Pelosi facedown on the ground as paramedics assist him. One holds a white towel in opposition to Pelosi’s head as one other places a neck and head brace on him earlier than a number of first responders assist him onto a stretcher chair. Pelosi’s face and fingers are coated in blood.
He later underwent surgical procedure to restore a cranium fracture and accidents to his proper arm and fingers.
Some witnesses helped confirm time stamps on footage from surveillance cameras on the Pelosis’ house, that are set to Japanese Time, and on BART trains, which have been an hour behind Pacific Time.
FBI Particular Agent Stephanie Minor, who was in command of the investigation, testified that video confirmed DePape hit Paul Pelosi at the least 3 times.
DePape confirmed little emotion throughout a lot of the testimony, solely smiling and releasing a muted chuckle when, at his legal professional’s request, Minor learn a listing of subjects that appeared on his weblog. They included Communism, corruption, COVID-19, Jewish folks, “Gamergate,” weapons, immigrants, memes and wamon, a phrase used to explain a girl who does nothing however complain.
Minor testified DePape began gathering objects for the assault two months beforehand, in August 2022,, buying physique cameras, USB reminiscence sticks, a big backpack and a sleeping bag. She additionally mentioned FBI brokers discovered two inflatable unicorn costumes and a field of crayons however didn’t clarify the aim of these objects.
Federal prosecutors have mentioned the proof and FBI testimony will present DePape researched his targets on-line, accumulating cellphone numbers and addresses, even paying for a public information service to search out data.
If convicted, DePape faces life in jail. He additionally has pleaded not responsible to costs in state courtroom of tried homicide, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse, residential housebreaking and different felonies. A state trial has not been scheduled.
Pelosi’s testimony mirrored the sequence of occasions that prosecutors beforehand laid out.
He recounted how DePape had let him enter the toilet, the place Pelosi was in a position to seize his cellphone and use it to name 911 as DePape seemed on, urging Pelosi to inform police that he was a good friend. Pelosi mentioned he tried to inform police what was occurring with out aggravating DePape.
Pelosi mentioned he then instructed the 2 head downstairs after DePape informed him he was drained and needed to sleep. Pelosi recalled being grateful when the police arrived, just for DePape to then hit him with the hammer. He mentioned he wakened in a pool of his personal blood.
After his arrest, DePape, 43, allegedly informed a San Francisco detective that he needed to carry Nancy Pelosi hostage. He mentioned if she informed him the reality, he would let her go and if she lied, he was going to “break her kneecaps” to point out different members of Congress there have been “penalties to actions,” in line with prosecutors.
DePape slept in a cot in a storage with no kitchen or toilet within the Bay Space metropolis of Richmond, in line with pictures proven by prosecutors. He had been doing odd carpentry jobs to help himself and allegedly informed authorities he had different targets, together with a ladies’s and queer research professor, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks and President Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
