The man accused of attacking the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer told police he wanted to take her hostage and “break her kneecaps” to show other members of Congress that he had “consequences for his actions,” authorities said.
On Friday, October 28, 2022, a man broke into Nancy Pelosi’s home in San Francisco and hit her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer.
The 82-year-old man underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to one arm and both hands. His doctors expect a full recovery.
David DePape, 42, was carrying zip ties, rope and duct tape in a backpack. He broke into the couple’s home early Friday morning. He went upstairs to the Pelosi’s room and demanded to speak to “Nancy,” who was not there but in the nation’s capital.
DePape is accused of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member. He also faces one charge of attempted kidnapping of a US official.
When Paul Pelosi told the intruder his wife wasn’t there, DePape said he would wait for her, even after learning she wouldn’t be home for a few days. The assailant then began to pull rope from his backpack to tie him up.
DePape is a Canadian citizen who entered the United States legally in 2000 but overstayed his visa.
In one post, he ranted about government attempts to control information, called for the arrest of journalists from prominent news organizations, published pamphlets against COVID vaccines, shared conspiracy theories, and repeated QAnon constructs.
Some of his posts referred to former President Donald Trump in the following terms. “Q[Anon] is Trump himself or Q are the Deep State moles within Trump’s inner circle. So Trump sabotaged their child trafficking operations.”
