Alleged Paul Pelosi attacker charged with assault and attempted kidnapping - CNN

CNN  — 

The antheral alleged to person attacked Paul Pelosi, hubby of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been charged with battle and attempted kidnapping following past week’s break-in at the couple’s San Francisco home, the US attorney’s bureau announced connected Monday.

David DePape, 42, was charged with 1 number of “attempted kidnapping of a US official,” according to the US attorney’s bureau for the Northern District of California. That complaint relates to Nancy Pelosi, who DePape told constabulary helium planned to “hold hostage,” according to an FBI affidavit besides unsealed connected Monday.

The attempted kidnapping complaint carries a maximum of 20 years successful prison.

CNN has reported that DePape allegedly shouted “Where’s Nancy?” aft breaking into their home.

DePape besides was charged with 1 number of battle of an contiguous household subordinate of a US authoritative with the intent to retaliate against the official. That complaint relates to a transgression allegedly committed against Paul Pelosi and carries a maximum condemnation of 30 years successful prison.

The national charges against DePape are successful summation to authorities charges that whitethorn besides beryllium announced connected Monday.

CNN reported earlier Monday that Paul Pelosi was interviewed this play astatine the infirmary by investigators and was capable to supply details of the attack, according to 2 instrumentality enforcement sources and a root acquainted with the matter.

Among those conducting the interrogation were FBI and section instrumentality enforcement investigators.

The tribunal filing related to the national charges against DePape uncover the astir elaborate relationship yet of Paul Pelosi’s 911 telephone portion the incidental was unfolding.

“Pelosi stated words to the effect of determination is simply a antheral successful the location and that the antheral is going to hold for Pelosi’s wife. Pelosi further conveyed that helium does not cognize who the antheral is. The antheral said his sanction is David,” an FBI cause said successful a sworn affidavit that was unsealed Monday.

Paul Pelosi called 911 astatine 2:23 a.m. Pacific Time connected Friday, and constabulary arrived astatine his location 8 minutes later, according to the affidavit unsealed Monday.

“When the doorway was opened, Pelosi and DePape were some holding a hammer with 1 manus and DePape had his different manus holding onto Pelosi’s forearm,” the affidavit said. “Pelosi greeted the officers. The officers asked them what was going on. DePape responded that everything was good. Officers past asked Pelosi and DePape to driblet the hammer.”

At that moment, DePape allegedly pulled the hammer distant and swung it, striking Paul Pelosi successful the head. Pelosi “appeared to beryllium unconscious connected the ground” aft the blow, the affidavit said.

Paul Pelosi was aboriginal taken to the infirmary and underwent a “successful country to repair a skull fracture and superior injuries to his close limb and hands,” according to a erstwhile property merchandise from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. They said they expect Paul Pelosi to marque a afloat recovery.

CNN has antecedently reported that Pelosi managed to support the enactment unfastened with 911, the dispatcher could perceive a speech successful the background, and that Pelosi was talking successful codification to assistance the authorities recognize what was happening.

“DePape was prepared to detain and injure Speaker Pelosi erstwhile helium entered the Pelosi residence successful the aboriginal greeting of October 28, 2022,” the FBI cause said successful the affidavit. “DePape had zip ties, tape, rope, and astatine slightest 1 hammer with him that morning.”

DePape has not yet had immoderate tribunal appearances related to the attack.

According to the transgression ailment filed successful court, DePape confessed successful an interrogation with section constabulary that helium intended to find the House talker and clasp her hostage.

The FBI affidavit filed with the ailment said: “DePape stated that helium was going to clasp Nancy hostage and speech to her. If Nancy were to archer DePape the ‘truth,’ helium would fto her go, and if she ‘lied,’ helium was going to interruption ‘her kneecaps.’”

“DePape was definite that Nancy would not person told the ‘truth,’” the FBI affidavit said.

The affidavit further stated DePape told constabulary that Nancy Pelosi was the “leader of the pack” of lies promoted by the Democratic Party. DePape told constabulary that different members of Congress would spot that determination are consequences to their actions erstwhile Pelosi, with breached kneecaps, would get “wheeled into” the House chamber, according to the affidavit.

The interrogation was conducted by the San Francisco Police Department connected Friday, the time of the attack, according to tribunal filings. DePape was work his Miranda rights earlier helium spoke with the constabulary and confessed to his intentions to kidnap the top-ranking House Democrat, according to the filings.

The national charges unsealed Monday besides further debunk a conspiracy mentation astir the Pelosi onslaught that was antecedently shared connected Twitter by its billionaire proprietor Elon Musk.

The conspiracy mentation claimed, among different things, that Paul Pelosi knew his attacker. Musk tweeted a nexus to an nonfiction promoting the mentation connected Sunday, though helium aboriginal deleted it.

The FBI affidavit, unsealed Monday alongside the national charges, says Pelosi told a 911 dispatcher during his telephone that “he does not cognize who the antheral is” that invaded his home.

Furthermore, the affidavit said San Francisco Police Department officers interviewed Pelosi successful the ambulance connected the mode to hospital, and helium said, “He had ne'er seen (David) DePape before.”

Earlier connected Monday, San Francisco Police Department main William Scott told CNN’s Ana Cabrera that Paul Pelosi didn’t cognize the suspect. The constabulary main said the question of conspiracies astir the lawsuit were “baseless” and “damaging” to the ongoing investigation.

This communicative has been updated with further developments.