Paul Pelosi on Monday described on the witness stand the stunning intrusion at his and his spouse Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco mansion final yr that culminated in a brutal hammer assault that fractured his cranium.
The testimony got here in the course of the federal trial of David DePape, accused of assaulting Pelosi and planning to kidnap the previous Home Speaker.
Throughout his testimony, Paul Pelosi described the second on Oct. 28, 2022 when he was woke up to search out an intruder in his bed room.
Q: What woke you up?
A: The door opened and a really massive man got here in with a hammer in a single hand and a few [zip]ties within the different
Q: While you first noticed the defendant, had been you mendacity down?
A: Sure, and asleep. When he burst by means of the door he woke me up.
Q: How far was he from you?
A: He was standing within the doorway, he was 3 to 4 toes [away] … It was an incredible shock, taking a look at him, wanting on the hammer and the ties … I acknowledged I used to be in severe hazard I attempted to remain as calm as potential.
Sketch by Vicki Behringer
Pelosi mentioned DePape requested a number of instances, “The place’s Nancy?” and he instructed him that she was in Washington DC, to which he responded that he was going to have to attend for her.
“He mentioned, she was the chief of the pack, he needed to take her out, he was going to attend for her,” mentioned Pelosi. “He was going to tie me up and await her.”
Pelosi mentioned he was capable of stroll over to his toilet the place his cellphone was charging and he grabbed it and referred to as 911. He additionally testified there are surveillance cameras contained in the couple’s Pacific Heights residence in addition to an alarm system. Nevertheless, on the evening of the assault, Pelosi mentioned he did not set the alarm as a result of he solely set it when he left the home.
When police arrived on the home, Pelosi mentioned he was relieved that he had apparently prevented the worst. However after an officer ordered DePape to drop the hammer, he as a substitute pushed Pelosi and “whacked me on the pinnacle.” Pelosi mentioned he keep in mind later waking up in a pool of blood.
“I’ve tried to place it out of my thoughts”
DePape has pleaded not responsible to tried kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the instant member of the family of a federal official with intent to retaliate towards the official for the efficiency of their duties.
The assault, simply days earlier than that yr’s midterm elections, additionally left Pelosi with severe accidents to his proper arm and palms other than his cranium fracture. He underwent surgical procedure following the assault and Pelosi testified Monday that he’s near full restoration and has tried to show the web page.
The Washington Publish
“I’ve not mentioned this incident with anyone. And I’ve inspired my household to not both,” he mentioned Monday. “I’ve tried to place it out of my thoughts. It wasn’t till [the prosecutor’s] assembly with you and your associates that I talked about this. I’ve made the very best effort that I probably can to not re-live this.”
Regulation enforcement testimony, surveillance video
Earlier Monday, numerous legislation enforcement officers testified in regards to the assault and the investigation, together with two FBI brokers – one who collected the electronics DePape was carrying and one other who offered surveillance video of DePape’s actions on BART and San Francisco Muni hours earlier than the assault.
Different testimony got here from a U.S. Capitol police officer who watches the surveillance cameras on the Pelosis’ residence and one other who has protected Nancy Pelosi since 2006. U.S. Capitol Particular Agent Dwight Littlejohn arrived initially of his 6 a.m. shift on the Speaker’s DC residence on Oct. 28 and discovered in regards to the assault on Paul Pelosi; each departed to San Francisco later that day.
Among the witnesses helped confirm time stamps on footage from surveillance cameras on the Pelosis’ residence, that are set to Jap Time, and on BART trains, which had been an hour behind Pacific Time.
Prosecutors exhibited surveillance video of DePape smashing by means of the glass patio door of the house, in addition to slow-motion physique digital camera footage of the assault from one of many officers who responded to Paul Pelosi’s 911 name.
San Francisco Superior Court docket
One other witness was Jason Matthes, the chief authorized officer for Spokeo, a search engine that permits individuals to lookup private addresses and get in touch with data from on-line and offline sources. Matthes testified that DePape looked for Nancy Pelosi’s data seven days earlier than the assault.
Protection lawyer Jodi Linker instructed jurors final week that she will not dispute that DePape attacked Paul Pelosi in an encounter caught on police physique digital camera video. As an alternative, she’s going to argue that he believed “with each ounce of his being” that he was taking motion to cease authorities corruption and the abuse of kids by politicians and actors. She mentioned meaning the federal government’s expenses that DePape was making an attempt to retaliate or intrude with Nancy Pelosi’s official duties do not match.
Federal prosecutor Laura Vartain Horn instructed jurors throughout opening statements Thursday that DePape began planning the assault in August and that the proof and FBI testimony will present he researched his targets on-line, accumulating cellphone numbers and addresses, even paying for a public data service to search out details about Nancy Pelosi and others.
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If convicted, DePape faces life in jail. He additionally has pleaded not responsible to expenses in state court docket of tried homicide, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse, residential housebreaking and different felonies. A state trial has not been scheduled.
After his arrest, DePape, 43, allegedly instructed a San Francisco detective that he wished to carry Nancy Pelosi hostage. He mentioned if she instructed him the reality, he would let her go and if she lied, he was going to “break her kneecaps” to indicate different members of Congress there have been “penalties to actions,” based on prosecutors.
DePape, who lived in a storage within the Bay Space metropolis of Richmond and had been doing odd carpentry jobs to assist himself, allegedly instructed 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.
Kathleen Seccombe contributed to this report
