Alleged Pelosi assailant charged with attempted kidnapping, assault
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.
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.
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.
-
The mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published