Paul Pelosi attack: What to know ahead of suspect David Depape’s hearing
Rachel Schilke
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David DePape, the man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer in October 2022, will appear at a hearing on Wednesday ahead of his federal trial in November.
DePape entered the home of Paul Pelosi and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Oct. 28. He allegedly attacked Paul Pelosi, sending him to the hospital in critical condition with a skull fracture, in addition to other injuries.
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The suspect was charged at both the state and federal level. He is scheduled to appear in court for both trials at the end of this year.
Here is what to know about the attack and what comes next for DePape.
Who is David DePape?
David DePape, 42, is an illegal immigrant from Canada. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said he faces possible deportation after federal and state criminal cases are resolved.
DePape has an extensive history of sharing extremist viewers and peddling conspiracy theories on social media on topics such as the COVID-19 vaccine, the 2020 election, and the Capitol riot.
What happened on Oct. 28, 2022?
On Oct. 28, 2022, DePape allegedly broke into the Pelosi residence located in San Francisco, California, using a hammer on a glass door. He woke up Paul Pelosi from his bedroom and told him that he was looking for Nancy Pelosi, according to the FBI arrest affidavit.
Upon discovering that Nancy Pelosi was not in the house, DePape mused about using zip ties to restrain him, but during a conversation, Paul Pelosi managed to slip into the bathroom. He eventually made his way back into the bedroom and placed a call to the police, speaking in code to let the operator know that there was an intruder in the house.
“DEPAPE explained that he did not leave after Pelosi’s call to 9-1-1 because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender. DEPAPE reiterated this sentiment elsewhere in the interview,” the affidavit said.
When officers arrived at the scene, they said they found Paul Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer. When officers asked them to release it, body camera footage shows DePape violently attacking the speaker’s husband.
Paul Pelosi suffered a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hand. He has since made a full recovery.
DePape told investigators later that his plan was to break Nancy Pelosi’s kneecaps unless she gave him information, considering her to be “the ‘leader of the pack’ of lies told by the Democratic Party.” He also had a “target list” of other potential victims, including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Hunter Biden, and Tom Hanks, police said.
What are the charges?
For Wednesday’s federal hearing, DePape is facing one count of assault upon an immediate family member of a U.S. official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties and one count of attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official on account of the performance of official duties.
His federal trial is set to begin on Nov. 13.
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At the state level, he is charged with a slew of state felony charges — including attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder, and threats to a public official. He pleaded not guilty to these charges on Nov. 1, 2022, and was arraigned on Dec. 28, 2022.
The trial for DePape’s state charges has been delayed while the federal trial plays out. A status hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 13. His attorney, Adam Lipson, said he would not set a state trial date until he has a better idea of when the federal trial will end.