Alleged Pelosi assailant charged with attempted kidnapping, assault
![Pelosi residence in San Francisco.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJbJfR8PLU6FaV8CYc79hA-415-80.jpg)
Federal authorities have charged the suspect accused of brutally attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) husband with attempted kidnapping and assault, multiple outlets reported Monday, per court documents.
After breaking into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco early Friday morning, the alleged assailant, David Wayne DePape, woke up Paul Pelosi and demanded to know the House speaker's whereabouts, The Washington Post reports, according to the documents. When Mr. Pelosi said his wife was away (she was in Washington, D.C. at the time), DePape reportedly said he would wait.
When responding officers arrived at the scene (Mr. Pelosi was eventually able to call 911), they saw both men holding onto a hammer in DePape's hand. Officers told the men to drop the hammer, "at which point DePape allegedly wrested the tool free and struck Paul Pelosi with it in the head, knocking him unconscious," the Post continues, per the affidavit.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While in custody, DePape later said he wanted to "hold Nancy hostage and talk to her." If she told him "the truth," he said we would let her go; but if she "lied" he planned to break "her kneecaps" to show "other members of Congress there were consequences to actions," the document read. DePape also allegedly said he hoped to use Pelosi to lure another individual to him; the affidavit did not detail who that might be.
The attempted kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the assault charge carries up to 30, per The New York Times.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Pelosi and Obama add to doubts over Biden
Speed Read Both Democrats think the president should reconsider his reelection campaign, insiders say
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published