DOJ Charges Pelosi Attack Suspect With Attempted Kidnapping

Topline

The Department of Justice on Monday charged the man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, alleging in court papers that defendant David DePape told police he wanted to “hold Nancy hostage” and “break her kneecaps” if she did not tell the “truth.”

Key Facts

Federal prosecutors charged DePape, 42, with assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official, and he is expected to be charged separately by the San Francisco District Attorney’s office on Monday.

The FBI said in an affidavit released Monday that DePape, referring to the House speaker as “the leader of the pack,” told responding officers with the San Francisco Police Department he wanted to “hold Nancy hostage and talk to her,” and set an example for other members of Congress as to what would happen to them if they did not tell the truth.

DePape also told local police he “wanted to use Nancy to lure another individual” who is not identified in the complaint, the affidavit states.

DePape allegedly said he removed zip ties from his pocket to restrain Paul Pelosi until the speaker came home, but Paul Pelosi moved to another part of the house.

Shortly after police arrived and found Paul Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer, DePape pulled the weapon from Paul Pelosi and hit him in the head, appearing to knock him unconscious, the FBI said in its affidavit.

Key Background

The FBI says DePape admitted to local police he broke into the Pelosis’ Pacific Heights home around 2 a.m. Friday by breaking a glass door with a hammer he brought there. Paul Pelosi was asleep and seemed surprised to see him when he arrived in search of Nancy Pelosi, DePape told local police, according to federal investigators. In an interview with police from his hospital bed, Paul Pelosi said he told the suspect the speaker would not be home for several days, but DePape said he would wait. DePape attempted to tie Paul Pelosi up with zip ties, but he moved into another room before going to the bathroom to call police around 2:23 a.m., according to DePape’s police interview detailed in the federal complaint. In addition to the hammer, police found a roll of tape, rope, two pairs of gloves and a hammer in the backpack DePape was carrying, and additional hammers and a sword were discovered at the garage where DePape lived in Richmond, Calif., the affidavit states. DePape was arrested immediately after the attack and Paul Pelosi, 82, was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his hands and right arm, Pelosi’s office said in a statement. The speaker was in Washington at the time and reportedly traveled back to San Francisco to be with her husband on Friday.

Tangent

DePape reportedly shared conspiracy theories on his social media page, including false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, falsehoods about the Covid-19 pandemic and white supremacist credos backed by the QAnon conspiracy.

What To Watch For

DePape could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison if he’s convicted of assaulting Paul Pelosi, and up to 20 years in prison for attempting to kidnap a federal official.

Further Reading

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

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

Alleged Pelosi Attacker Reportedly Carried Bag Of Zip Ties (Forbes)