Defense team of Paul Pelosi attacker centers on misled motive
Lawyers for David DePape, the man on trial for the attack on the husband of former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the couple’s San Francisco home, will call witnesses on November 14 as they claim the Mr. DePape is not guilty of the crimes charged against him. of.
The third day of the trial begins with a final prosecution witness, and attorneys say they hope to wrap up their case by the end of the day. The case would then go to the jury.
Prosecutors say Mr. DePape punched Paul Pelosi in the early hours of October 28, 2022, just days before the midterm elections, and that he had rope and zip ties with him. Mr. DePape has pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official with intent to retaliate against the official for the performance of his duties.
Attorney Jodi Linker told the jury last week that she will not dispute that Mr. DePape attacked Mr. Pelosi. Instead, she will argue that Mr. DePape believed he was taking action to stop government corruption, the erosion of freedom in the United States and the abuse of children by politicians and actors. She said this means allegations that Mr. DePape tried to interfere with Nancy Pelosi’s official duties are out of line.
Paul Pelosi took the stand on November 13, publicly speaking for the first time what happened the night of the attack.
“It was a huge shock when I realized someone had broken into the house, and when I looked at him and looked at the hammer and the ties, I realized I was in serious danger, so I tried to remain as calm as possible. he testified.
The Pelosis’ home has an alarm system with motion detectors, but Mr. Pelosi said he never turned it on when he was home alone because his movements would trigger it.
He remembered being woken by a man bursting through the bedroom door and asking, “Where’s Nancy?” He said that when he replied that his wife was in Washington, Mr. DePape said he would tie him up while they waited for her.
He later testified that he was able to call the police from his cell phone and that Mr. DePape hit him with a hammer when the police arrived.
Earlier, prosecutors played police body camera footage that showed Mr. Pelosi lying face down on the ground as paramedics helped him. One holds a towel to Mr. Pelosi’s head while another puts a neck and head brace on him before several first responders help him onto a stretcher. Mr. Pelosi’s face and hands are covered in blood. He later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands.
FBI Special Agent Stephanie Minor, who led the investigation, testified that the video showed Mr. DePape punching Paul Pelosi at least three times.
Mr. DePape showed little emotion during most of the testimony; he just smiled and let out a muffled chuckle as Ms. Minor read a list of topics that appeared on his blog at his lawyer’s request. These included communism, corruption, COVID-19, the Jewish people, “Gamergate,” guns, immigrants, memes, and wamon, a word used to describe a woman who does nothing but complain.
If convicted, Mr. DePape faces up to life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty in state court to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other crimes. A state trial has not been scheduled.
After his arrest, Mr. DePape reportedly told a San Francisco detective that he wanted to take Nancy Pelosi hostage. He said if she told him the truth, he would let her go and if she lied, he would “break her kneecaps” to show other members of Congress that there were “consequences to actions,” prosecutors said.
Defense attorneys have named four possible witnesses: Daniel Bernal, Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff in San Francisco; researcher of extremism and anti-Semitism Elizabeth Yates; federal public defender Catherine Goulet; and an unknown witness.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.