Accused Paul Pelosi attacker told police officer: ‘There is evil in Washington’
the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, described in court Wednesday the struggle before Paul Pelosi was bludgeoned in the head in the couple’s home.
“My partner said, ‘Drop the weapon,'” San Francisco Police Officer Kyle Cagney said, recalling his encounter with suspect David DePape, 42. “He started to pull the hammer, Mr. Pelosi let go and the man lunged and hit Mr. Pelosi in the head.”
Pelosi was also holding the hammer but let go, following police orders, Cagney said, as Paul Pelosi fell face first as “a pool of blood” began pouring underneath him after he was struck. On the body camera footage, one of the officers can be heard yelling, “Whoa! Oh, s**t!”
the shocking assault and the charges against DePape.
DETAILS EMERGE IN PAUL PELOSI ATTACK: A break-in, conversation, 911 call, then violence
The hammer was also among about a dozen pieces of evidence prosecutors Sean Connolly and Phoebe Maffei introduced at the preliminary hearing in San Francisco Superior Court.
Pelosi and DePape grappling with the hammer near the front door of the Pacific Heights home. The officer showed the court the hammer, pulled from an evidence bag.
When Connolly asked Cagney how hard DePape struck Pelosi, Cagney replied: “Very hard.” The police body camera recorded Cagney’s partner telling DePape to “drop the hammer.” DePape replied, “Uh, nope.”
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Police officer recounts interview with DePae
Police Lt. Carla Hurley interviewed DePape at San Francisco General Hospital the day of the attack and he was recorded saying: “I’m not trying to get away with this. I know what I did.”
Hurley testified to Maffei that DePape mentioned “other targets,” including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks, and Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son.
orange pants, and a mask with his long brown hair slicked back, could be seen with his head down, especially as he heard himself talking in detail with Hurley in his recorded police interview prosecutors used as key evidence.
DePape is being held without bail at San Francisco County Jail and has been in custody since the Oct. 28 attack. Jenkins declined to comment about any other targets than the Pelosi’s citing the ongoing investigation.
State charges include attempted murder and burglary
The state charges include attempted murder, elder abuse, and burglary for allegedly knocking Paul Pelosi, 82, unconscious during the morning break-in at the couple’s home. DePape, who pleaded not guilty to the state charges, faces 13 years to life in prison if convicted.
A previous judge at DePape’s initial court appearance, Loretta “Lori” Giorgi, left the case after revealing she Speaker Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, worked at the San Francisco city attorney’s office in the 1990s. Christine Pelosi attended the hearing.
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DePape also faces federal charges of assault on a family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Nov. 15 and awaits a status hearing Feb. 8.
‘There is evil in Washington’
DePape allegedly broke a glass door to get into the home after 2 a.m. looking for Nancy Pelosi, who was in Washington, according to court records. DePape awakened Paul Pelosi, who was in bed asleep, to ask where his wife was, according to court records.
Hurley said he was on a “suicide mission” and had plans to target other California and federal politicians.
Paul Pelosi attends Kennedy Center Honors in first public appearance since being attacked
DePape was watching when Paul Pelosi called 911 from Pelosi’s bathroom, according to Hurley. Paul Pelosi suggested that the two go downstairs to the first floor where DePape broke in, Hurley said.
When DePape saw the lights of a police patrol car, Hurley testified that DePape told Paul Pelosi, “I’m not going to surrender, I am here to fight. If you try to stop me, you will take the punishment.”
During the hearing, Connolly asked Cagney that if “this whole thing happened in a matter of seconds?”
“Yes,” Cagney said, recalling he took down DePape and tossed the hammer aside.
Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious and suffered a skull fracture in the attack, along with arm and hand injuries, all of which required surgery. He is recovering and the hearing came the same day Paul Pelosi joined his wife at the Capitol for the unveiling of her official portrait.
Contributing: The Associated Press