“It is wrong, and everyone should beryllium disgusted,” helium added.
David DePape forced his mode into the location done a backmost entrance, Scott said. Officers discovered him and Pelosi grappling for a hammer; aft they instructed DePape to driblet the weapon, Scott said, helium “violently attacked” Pelosi.
Police person taken DePape into custody and said helium volition beryllium charged with attempted homicide, battle with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and respective further felonies. Pelosi has undergone palmy country for fractures to his skull and arms.
The emerging representation of a politically motivated onslaught by a antheral who consumed fringe conspiracy theories has shocked San Francisco and stoked caller concerns astir elected officials facing violence.
While authorities person not elaborate a motive, DePape’s online past indicates that helium subscribed to the discredited communicative that the 2020 statesmanlike predetermination was illegitimate and espoused a scope of bigoted and extremist beliefs. He expressed anti-Semitic views and appeared to clasp the QAnon movement, which posits a concealed cabal of pedophiles has been protected by radical successful power.
Scott besides thanked the responding exigency dispatcher Heather Grives for recognizing thing was incorrect erstwhile Paul Pelosi dialed 911, allowing constabulary to outpouring into action.
“What helium said, she felt determination was thing much to it,” Scott said.
POLITICO reported earlier Friday that Pelosi had been capable to dial 911 aft telling the intruder helium had to usage the restroom and past called from inside, wherever his telephone had been charging.
White reported from San Francisco; Wu reported from Washington, D.C.