Paul Pelosi attack footage released: Police bodycam shows distressing hammer assault
Ryan King
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San Francisco police have released body camera footage of the moment Paul Pelosi was attacked in his home by an assailant with a hammer last October.
Pelosi was seen greeting responding officers at his front door while his left arm was restrained by suspect David DePape who was wielding a hammer. Pelosi initially appears calm as police open the door, however he then tries to break free from the attacker. At that point, the video shows DePape raises the hammer into the air and viciously strike Pelosi in the head.
Police officers then quickly rushed to restrain DePape, pinning him to the ground before radioing in for medics and backup.
PAUL PELOSI ATTACK BODY CAMERA AND HOME SECURITY FOOTAGE TO BE RELEASED FRIDAY
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
https://twitter.com/BigadShaban/status/1619019200949010432
Pelosi later received surgery to “repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” a spokesperson for his wife said.
Additional material, including audio of a cryptic phone call Paul Pelosi made to police during a brief bathroom break away from DePape is also expected to be released to the public.
The footage was ordered released by the San Francisco Superior Court earlier this week after a coalition of news outlets challenged the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office’s refusal to release the tranche, fearing it could feed misinformation fodder.
In the early morning hours of Oct. 28, 2022, DePape allegedly stormed into the Pelosi home and asked “Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?” He allegedly brought white zip ties with him during the break-in and was later seen by police striking Paul Pelosi, 82, over the head with a hammer, according to court records.
Meanwhile, his wife Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was out of town in Washington, D.C. during the attack.
DePape later confessed to the assault after he was apprehended, according to police. He has pleaded not guilty to a slew of both state and federal charges lodged against him. His legal team opposed the release of the audio and video footage material, arguing it could undercut his chances of getting a fair trial.
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Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday that her husband is recovering “one day at a time” and indicated that she does not plan to watch the footage.
“He’s made some progress, but it’ll be about at least three more months, I think, until he’ll be back to normal, but the prayers are very helpful,” Nancy Pelosi said, per CNN. “It would be a very hard thing to see an assault on my husband’s life. But I don’t know.”