Alleged Paul Pelosi Attacker Pleads Not Guilty To State Charges

Topline

David DePape, the man accused of violently attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi last week, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other state charges, according to several reports, as authorities allege DePape specifically targeted the Pelosis and aimed to hold the House speaker hostage.

Key Facts

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged DePape on Monday with attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official.

Federal prosecutors also separately charged him Monday with assault on an immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official, which he has not yet entered a plea for.

DePape—who was arrested shortly after Friday’s attack—was ordered to be held without bail during an arraignment Tuesday, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday.

During the arraignment, DePape was also reportedly served an order of protection which requires him to stay 150 feet away from the Pelosis and their residence.

Key Background

DePape is accused of breaking into the Pelosis’ home on Friday and using a hammer to attack Paul Pelosi, 82. Paul Pelosi underwent skull and arm surgery that day to repair the wounds he sustained during the attack, which included fractures, and his doctors said they expect him to make a full recovery. DePape allegedly yelled “where’s Nancy?” when he entered the residence, and attempted to tie Paul Pelosi up (the speaker was in Washington, D.C., at the time of the incident). DePape’s Facebook profile reportedly shared posts containing false information about the 2020 election and the Covid-19 pandemic, and he is allegedly linked to blogs containing allusions to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory. Law enforcement sources told CBS on Monday the suspect allegedly had a list of those he wanted to target.

Further Reading

Paul Pelosi Underwent Surgery After Alleged Hammer Attack At Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Home (Forbes)

Paul Pelosi Attacker Identified — Allegedly Entered Home With Hammer Asking ‘Where Is Nancy?’ (Forbes)

Paul Pelosi’s Alleged Attacker’s Facebook Page Filled With 2020 Election Conspiracies, Reports Say (Forbes)

Pelosi Attacker: QAnon And White Supremacist Ideas Linked To Alleged Assailant (Forbes)

State And Federal Charges Announced Against Paul Pelosi Attack Suspect (Forbes)

Trump Calls Paul Pelosi Attack ‘Terrible’—And Joins Other GOP Figures In Linking Assault To Crime Trends (Forbes)