A US court released a video showing DePape using a hammer to attack Paul Pelosi, husband of former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, last year.
A US court on January 27 released a video showing the scene of suspect David DePape, 42, in October 2022 with a hammer, breaking into the home of Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the US House of Representatives, in San Francisco, California.
DePape stood with a hammer next to Mr. Paul Pelosi, 82 years old, Ms. Pelosi’s husband. Both men were clutching the hammer when the police came to the door.
An officer asked “What happened?” and asked DePape to drop the hammer. DePape and Mr. Paul Pelosi then wrestled the hammer in front of police, but DePape successfully snatched it and used it to attack Mr. Paul.
Suspect David DePape used a hammer to attack Mr. Paul Pelosi in San Francisco, California, in October 2022. Video: Twitter/@Hirdman. Video contains violent scenes, readers consider before watching.
The suspect was immediately subdued by officers, while Mr. Paul lay motionless on the floor. He suffered a fractured skull and injured his hand, and was hospitalized for about a week.
In November 2022, DePape was charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, burglary, elder abuse, unlawful detention and intimidation of an official. Prosecutors said DePape could face sentences ranging from 13 years to life in prison.
DePape testified that he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi, but she was not at home.
US President Joe Biden also said that this attack was aimed at Ms. Pelosi, and condemned the attack and increasingly polarized political views in the US.
Nancy Pelosi, 82 years old, served as speaker of the US House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to January 3, 2023. Her term ended when Republicans won control of the House of Representatives following the 2022 midterm elections. She is currently a congressman representing California. In October 2022, she said she was “deeply heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack” on her husband.
Nancy Pelosi and her husband in Washington, D.C., December 2019. Photo: Reuters.
Ngoc Anh (Theo AFP)