David DePape, the man suspected of violently assaulting the husband of Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, has been charged with attempted kidnapping and assault, the US Department of Justice announced Monday (October 31st).
The man entered the couple’s home in San Francisco, California, on Friday morning, equipped in particular with plastic ties, pairs of gloves and adhesive tape, the ministry said in a press release. So many elements which prove, according to justice, that he intended to kidnap the person responsible, a charge which could earn him up to twenty years in prison. Assaulting her husband faces another prison sentence of up to 30 years, the justice ministry said.
On Monday night, the San Francisco district attorney announced a flurry of new charges, including attempted murder and burglary, this time at the local, not the federal level. It was an attack “politically motivated”and David DePape could be sentenced to life in prison, said Brooke Jenkins during a press conference.
The 42-year-old suspect had entered the couple’s bedroom looking for Nancy Pelosi, who was in Washington that day. His arrival had awakened Paul Pelosi, 82, who had had time to call the 911 emergency number before the suspect attacked him with a hammer. David DePape was then arrested on the spot by the police, who found the victim unconscious.
Nancy Pelosi “traumatized”
After his arrest, David DePape told officers he held Nancy Pelosi responsible for the ” lies “ propagated according to him by the Democratic Party, according to a court document attached to the press release from the ministry.
Explaining that he intended to take her hostage and talk to her, the man explained that if she told him ” the truth “he would free her, but that “If she lied, he would break her kneecaps”, according to the same source. Paul Pelosi has “suffered the punishment for him”, said the suspect. David DePape, who lived in a garage in a small town near San Francisco, had relayed far-right theories on social media.
Nancy Pelosi said to herself ” traumatized “ Saturday by the assault, stating that the state of health of Paul Pelosi, operated for a fractured skull and injuries to the arm and hands on Friday, continued to improve. President Joe Biden denounced an act “despicable”. Several Republican officials, such as Donald Trump, condemned the attack while blaming the Democrats for the rise in insecurity – one of their main campaign arguments for the midterm elections – and refusing to make the link with on January 6, 2021, where many attackers were shouting “Where’s Nancy?” » entering the Capitol.
Billionaire Elon Musk, new owner of the social network Twitter, meanwhile echoed a far-fetched and homophobic rumor on Sunday about the attack on Paul Pelosi, tweeting “there is a small possibility that appearances are deceiving”and referring to a link to the far-right conspiratorial site Santa Monica Observe. He then deleted his tweet and took on the New York Times who had previously criticized him.