Paul Pelosi knew immediately that he was “in grave danger” when he woke up and saw a large, unknown man standing in his room with a hammer and zip ties, he testified Monday in Federal Court in San Francisco.
“He was standing at the door and I guess he was three or four feet away from me,” Pelosi said at the trial of David DePape, who is accused of assaulting him.
Pelosi gave her version of events of the ordeal when DePape, 43, broke into her home shortly after 2 a.m. on October 28, 2022.
He demanded to know the whereabouts of Pelosi’s wife, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“He said, ‘Where’s Nancy? “I think that woke me up,” Pelosi continued. “I’m asleep and he burst in the door and that woke me up.”
Paul Pelosi leaves federal court in San Francisco after testifying on Nov. 13.David G. McIntyre An image from a San Francisco Police Department body camera video captured DePape holding a hammer, which he allegedly used to attack Paul Pelosi, 83, inside. his home in San Francisco on October 28, 2022. AP Paul Pelosi photographed during the unveiling ceremony for the portrait of his wife, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Washington, DC on December 14, 2022. AP
Nancy Pelosi was in Washington DC at the time of the attack.
DePape allegedly later told detectives that he had planned to take the former House speaker hostage and “break her kneecaps.”
During the bizarre interaction that followed, Pelosi managed to call 911 and told an operator, “This gentleman just came into the house and he wants to wait here until my wife gets back and he’s telling me to hang up the phone anyway.” “.
The dispatcher recognized a possible threat despite Pelosi’s calm demeanor and police were sent to the home.
Pelosi said she knew her best chance of survival was to go downstairs and encounter the police.
Pelosi testified that she told DePape, “Since all your stuff is downstairs, why don’t we go down? You can tie me up and get some sleep,” according to NBC News.
Paul Pelosi leaves the federal courthouse in San Francisco after testifying against David DePape on Monday David G. McIntyre Police tape blocks a street in front of the home of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on October 28, 2022. Prosecutors said David DePape broke into the house around 2 a.m. looking for Nancy Pelosi, but found her husband.AP
Once they opened the door for officers, DePape grabbed the hammer and hit Paul with it, body camera video shows.
FBI Special Agent Stephanie Minor testified Monday about video indicating DePape punched Paul Pelosi at least three times.
Prosecutors also played video footage from police body cameras that showed paramedics helping Pelosi, who was face down on the ground.
While one paramedic held a white towel against Pelosi’s head, another placed a neck and head brace on the 83-year-old before placing him on a stretcher.
Pelosi’s face and hands are covered in blood.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Vartain asked Pelosi what he remembered and he said, “Waking up in a pool of blood.”
Pelosi suffered a fractured skull and serious injuries to her right arm and hand in the attack and was hospitalized for several days for treatment.
Although he has since made public appearances alongside his wife, she said in January that he was “making progress, but it will take more time” before he was back to normal.
DePape’s defense attorney, Lori Linker, told jurors during her opening statement last week that the case is not a “cop” case, but that the jury should think about why her client attacked Pelosi.
David DePape in Berkeley, California, on December 13, 2013. DePape faces multiple charges, including attempted kidnapping of a federal official. AP
He claimed that DePape truly believed he was trying to save the world from a secret cabal of high-profile pedophiles.
He also echoed right-wing QAnon conspiracy theories and had a list of “targets,” which included Nancy Pelosi because he believed she was the “face” of the Democratic Party and used the mainstream media as his “weapon.” ”.
Their other intended targets included actor Tom Hanks, President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to court documents obtained by The Post.
DePape had also posted rants on a blog and online forum on topics including aliens, communists, religious minorities, and global elites.
In this file photo taken on April 23, 2019, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive at the Time 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York.AFP via Getty Images
DePape is on trial on charges of assault on an immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official.
He also faces a charge of attempted murder in a separate state case. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
DePape, a Canadian, moved to the United States more than 20 years ago after falling in love with Gypsy Taub, an activist known for her pro-nudity stance.
Taub, who was in court Monday, told The Post that DePape was not the type to resort to violence.
“He’s a very shy, sweet guy who would never raise his voice,” Taub said. “He is terrified of authority and he won’t even honk if he is interrupted. [in traffic]. She is the last person to do something like that, especially in front of the police.”
With postal cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn