The man who allegedly attacked Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been charged with assault and attempted kidnapping after last week’s break-in at the couple’s San Francisco home, the U.S. attorney’s office said Monday.
David DePape, 42, was charged with “attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of California. That charge relates to Nancy Pelosi, who Depp told police he planned to “hold hostage,” according to an FBI affidavit also unsealed Monday.
The attempted kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
CNN reported that DePape allegedly shouted “Where’s Nancy?” after breaking into their home.
DePape was also charged with assaulting a family member of a US official with the intent to retaliate against the official. This charge relates to a crime allegedly committed against Paul Pelosi and carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The federal charges against DePape are in addition to state charges that may also be announced Monday.
CNN reported earlier Monday that Paul Pelosi was interviewed this weekend at the hospital by investigators and was able to provide details about the attack, according to two law enforcement sources and a source familiar with the matter.
Among those conducting the interview were the FBI and local law enforcement investigators.
The court filing related to the federal charges against DePape reveals the most detailed account of Paul Pelosi’s 911 call while the incident was unfolding.
“Pelosi said there’s a male in the house and the male will be waiting for Pelosi’s wife. Pelosi further conveyed that she does not know who the man is. The man said his name is David,” an FBI agent said in an affidavit unsealed Monday.
Paul Pelosi called 911 at 2:23 am. Pacific time on Friday and police arrived at his home eight minutes later, according to the affidavit that was unsealed Monday.
“When the door opened, Pelosi and Depp were both holding a hammer with one hand and Depp was holding Pelosi’s forearm with the other hand,” the affidavit said. “Pelosi greeted the officers. The officers asked them what was going on. DePape replied that everything was fine. The officers then asked Pelosi and DePape to drop the gavel.”
At that moment, DePape allegedly pulled out the gavel and swung it, hitting Paul Pelosi in the head. Pelosi “appeared to be unconscious on the ground” after the hit, the affidavit said.
Paul Pelosi was later taken to the hospital and underwent “successful surgery to repair a fractured skull and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” according to an earlier news release from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. They said they expect Paul Pelosi to make a full recovery.
CNN previously reported that Pelosi was able to keep the line open with 911, the dispatcher could hear a conversation in the background and that Pelosi was speaking in code to help authorities figure out what was going on.
“DePape was prepared to arrest and injure Speaker Pelosi when he entered the Pelosi residence early on the morning of October 28, 2022,” the FBI agent said in the affidavit. “DePape had zip ties, tape, rope and at least one hammer with him that morning.”
DePape has yet to appear in court in connection with the attack.
According to the criminal complaint filed in court, DePape confessed in an interview with local police that he intended to find the speaker of the House and hold her hostage.
The FBI affidavit filed with the complaint said: “DePape stated that he was going to hold Nancy hostage and talk to her. If Nancy told DePape the ‘truth,’ he would let her go, and if she ‘lied,’ he would break her knees.”
“DePape was confident that Nancy would not have told the ‘truth,'” the FBI affidavit said.
The affidavit further stated that DePape told police that Nancy Pelosi was the “leader of the pack” of lies being promoted by the Democratic Party. De Pape told police that other members of Congress would see consequences for their actions when Pelosi, with broken knees, “wheeled into the chamber” of the House, according to the affidavit.
The interview was conducted by the San Francisco Police Department on Friday, the day of the attack, court records show. DePape was read his Miranda rights before he spoke to police and confessed his intentions to kidnap the top House Democrat, records show.
The federal charges unsealed Monday also further debunk a conspiracy theory about the attack on Pelosi that had been shared on Twitter by its billionaire owner Elon Musk.
The conspiracy theory claimed, among other things, that Paul Pelosi knew his attacker. Musk tweeted a link to an article promoting the theory on Sunday, though he later deleted it.
The FBI affidavit, unsealed Monday along with the federal charges, says Pelosi told a 911 dispatcher during the call that she “doesn’t know who the man is” who broke into his home.
Additionally, the affidavit said San Francisco police officers interviewed Pelosi in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and she said, “She had never seen David Depp before.”
Earlier Monday, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told CNN’s Ana Cabrera that Paul Pelosi did not know the suspect. The police chief said the spate of conspiracies about the case were “baseless” and “detrimental” to the ongoing investigation.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
title: “David Depape Suspect Paul Pelosi Charged With Attempted Kidnapping Of House Speaker " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Arthur Jenkins”
The man who allegedly attacked Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been charged with assault and attempted kidnapping after last week’s break-in at the couple’s San Francisco home, the U.S. attorney’s office said Monday.
David DePape, 42, was charged with “attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of California. That charge relates to Nancy Pelosi, who Depp told police he planned to “hold hostage,” according to an FBI affidavit also unsealed Monday.
The attempted kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
CNN reported that DePape allegedly shouted “Where’s Nancy?” after breaking into their home.
DePape was also charged with assaulting a family member of a US official with the intent to retaliate against the official. This charge relates to a crime allegedly committed against Paul Pelosi and carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The federal charges against DePape are in addition to state charges that may also be announced Monday.
CNN reported earlier Monday that Paul Pelosi was interviewed this weekend at the hospital by investigators and was able to provide details about the attack, according to two law enforcement sources and a source familiar with the matter.
Among those conducting the interview were the FBI and local law enforcement investigators.
The court filing related to the federal charges against DePape reveals the most detailed account of Paul Pelosi’s 911 call while the incident was unfolding.
“Pelosi said there’s a male in the house and the male will be waiting for Pelosi’s wife. Pelosi further conveyed that she does not know who the man is. The man said his name is David,” an FBI agent said in an affidavit unsealed Monday.
Paul Pelosi called 911 at 2:23 am. Pacific time on Friday and police arrived at his home eight minutes later, according to the affidavit that was unsealed Monday.
Hear details from Paul Pelosi’s coded 911 call that led to his rescue
“When the door opened, Pelosi and Depp were both holding a hammer with one hand and Depp was holding Pelosi’s forearm with the other hand,” the affidavit said. “Pelosi greeted the officers. The officers asked them what was going on. DePape replied that everything was fine. The officers then asked Pelosi and DePape to drop the gavel.”
At that moment, DePape allegedly pulled out the gavel and swung it, hitting Paul Pelosi in the head. Pelosi “appeared to be unconscious on the ground” after the hit, the affidavit said.
Paul Pelosi was later taken to the hospital and underwent “successful surgery to repair a fractured skull and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” according to an earlier news release from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. They said they expect Paul Pelosi to make a full recovery.
CNN previously reported that Pelosi was able to keep the line open with 911, the dispatcher could hear a conversation in the background and that Pelosi was speaking in code to help authorities figure out what was going on.
“DePape was prepared to arrest and injure Speaker Pelosi when he entered the Pelosi residence early on the morning of October 28, 2022,” the FBI agent said in the affidavit. “DePape had zip ties, tape, rope and at least one hammer with him that morning.”
DePape has yet to appear in court in connection with the attack.
According to the criminal complaint filed in court, DePape confessed in an interview with local police that he intended to find the speaker of the House and hold her hostage.
The FBI affidavit filed with the complaint said: “DePape stated that he was going to hold Nancy hostage and talk to her. If Nancy told DePape the ‘truth,’ he would let her go, and if she ‘lied,’ he would break her knees.”
“DePape was confident that Nancy would not have told the ‘truth,'” the FBI affidavit said.
‘Where’s Nancy?’: Gunman Yelled Before Attacking Pelosi’s Husband, Source Says
The affidavit further stated that DePape told police that Nancy Pelosi was the “leader of the pack” of lies being promoted by the Democratic Party. De Pape told police that other members of Congress would see consequences for their actions when Pelosi, with broken knees, “wheeled into the chamber” of the House, according to the affidavit.
The interview was conducted by the San Francisco Police Department on Friday, the day of the attack, court records show. DePape was read his Miranda rights before he spoke to police and confessed his intentions to kidnap the top House Democrat, records show.
The federal charges unsealed Monday also further debunk a conspiracy theory about the attack on Pelosi that had been shared on Twitter by its billionaire owner Elon Musk.
The conspiracy theory claimed, among other things, that Paul Pelosi knew his attacker. Musk tweeted a link to an article promoting the theory on Sunday, though he later deleted it.
The FBI affidavit, unsealed Monday along with the federal charges, says Pelosi told a 911 dispatcher during the call that she “doesn’t know who the man is” who broke into his home.
Galloway explains how the attack on Paul Pelosi complicates Musk’s vision for Twitter
Additionally, the affidavit said San Francisco police officers interviewed Pelosi in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and she said, “She had never seen David Depp before.”
Earlier Monday, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told CNN’s Ana Cabrera that Paul Pelosi did not know the suspect. The police chief said the spate of conspiracies about the case were “baseless” and “detrimental” to the ongoing investigation.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
