Wagswoofs – During the trial that opened on Thursday, the defense attorney for the man accused of bludgeoning former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer last year, stated that his client was involved in conspiracies at the time of the break-in at her San Francisco home.
In October 2022, just before the last year’s midterm elections, the assault on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi created a stir in the political arena.
According to Defense attorney Jodi Linker, David DePape’s attack on Paul Pelosi, which was recorded on police body camera video, will not be disputed. However, she plans to present an argument that DePape was motivated by a belief that he was taking action against the corruption and abuse of children by politicians and actors, which he believed with complete conviction.
According to her, this case is not just about who did it, but also about why it happened. The government may have failed to recognize the importance of the motive behind the act.
Prior Reporting
According to reports, DePape has pleaded not guilty to two charges: attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official with the intention of retaliating against the official for performance of their duties. However, Linker’s argument suggests that DePape’s actions were not aimed at stopping Nancy Pelosi from performing her official duties and therefore, he should not be found guilty of the charges.
Jurors were informed by Federal prosecutor Laura Vartain Horn that DePape had initiated planning the attack back in August. The evidence and FBI testimony showed that he had researched his targets online, collecting phone numbers and addresses. He even paid for a public records service to find information about Nancy Pelosi and other targets.
In her opening statement, Vartain Horn presented a picture depicting Paul Pelosi lying in a pool of blood. Additionally, she played a recorded call made by DePape to a television station, in which he reiterated his conspiracy theories.
While holding a hammer in a plastic evidence bag, Vartain Horn stated that the evidence presented in this case would demonstrate that the defendant had the intention of kidnapping Nancy Pelosi when he used the said hammer to break into her home.
During the trial, DePape’s admission to the attack was caught on body camera video, which was shown by the prosecutors. The footage captured the moment when he confessed to the crime while conversing with the police and paramedics outside the Pelosis’ residence.
“He said that there is no denying what he did, and the cops watched him do it.”
It is anticipated that Paul Pelosi will give his testimony in the coming week.
In his online rants, DePape expressed his views on a range of topics including aliens, communists, religious minorities, and global elites. He also casted doubt on the outcome of the 2020 election, and supported the unfounded QAnon conspiracy theory that alleges a group of devil-worshipping pedophiles runs the U.S. government. However, both his blog and online forum were removed from the internet soon after he was apprehended.
DePape could potentially face life imprisonment if found guilty. In addition to this, he has been charged with other serious felonies such as attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and residential burglary in state court. However, he has pleaded not guilty to these charges and a trial date has yet to be set.
Christine Pelosi, daughter of the Pelosis, along with Gypsy Taub, DePape’s ex-girlfriend, and their two teenage sons were present in the courtroom on Thursday. Taub softly called out DePape’s name and blew a kiss, to which he responded with a smile and a wave.
According to Gene DePape, his stepson, David DePape, a Canadian citizen, relocated to the United States more than two decades ago after developing a romantic relationship with Taub, a well-known pro-nudity activist in the Bay Area’s Berkeley community. Unfortunately, in recent years, David had been grappling with drug addiction and mental health issues, and had become homeless, as stated by Taub to the local media.
According to federal prosecutors, DePape forcefully broke through a glass panel on a door located at the back of the Pelosi’s Pacific Heights mansion. Once inside, he woke up Paul Pelosi, who was asleep and dressed in boxer shorts and a pajama top.
According to court records, around 2 a.m., DePape stood over Paul Pelosi, holding a hammer and zip ties, repeatedly asking, “Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?” It’s worth noting that Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which unfortunately does not extend to her family members.
After 60 years of marriage, Nancy Pelosi’s husband underwent a surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands.
According to prosecutors, after being arrested, DePape, who is 43 years old, reportedly informed a San Francisco detective that he intended to take Nancy Pelosi captive. He stated that he would release her if she told the truth, but if she lied, he would “break her kneecaps” as a warning to other members of Congress that there are consequences to their actions.
According to authorities, DePape had other targets besides the one he was arrested for. He allegedly mentioned a women’s and queer studies professor, California Governor Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks, and even President Joe Biden’s son Hunter. DePape, who supported himself by doing odd carpentry jobs and lived in a garage in Richmond, a city in the Bay Area, is currently in custody.
The defense has a short witness list that includes one target, whose name has been redacted. Along with that, there are several other potential witnesses such as DePape, Daniel Bernal, Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff, Elizabeth Yates, an extremism and antisemitism researcher, and Catherine Goulet, a federal public defender.
According to one of DePape’s defense attorneys, the professor was the primary target and had visited the Pelosis’ residence to have Nancy Pelosi persuade the professor to come out. The professor is expected to testify next week.
Fifteen individuals, including the surgeon who performed the operation on Paul Pelosi, federal agents, San Francisco police officers, and multiple first responders, are listed as potential witnesses by the prosecution.
Read More:
- Woman Arrested After Fatal Lunch That Left 3 Guests Dead
- Russian President Vladimir Putin Signs A Law That Allows For More Nuclear Tests
