newly released video shows husband of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fighting for control of a hammer with its attacker during a brutal attack in the pair San Francisco home last year.
The body camera footage shows David DePape grabbing the tools from 82-year-old Paul Pelosi and lunging at him with the hammer over his head. The blow to Mr. Pelosi happens out of sight and the officers – cursing one of them – burst into the house and pounce on the suspect.
Mr. Pelosi, seemingly unconscious, lies face down on the floor in his pajama top and underwear.
The release comes after a coalition of news agencies, including The Associated Press, sought access to evidence prosecutors played in open court last month. The San Francisco State Department had refused to make the documents available to journalists.
A screenshot of Capitol Police security footage shows the suspect outside the home of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
/ via REUTERSA state court judge ruled Wednesday that there was no reason to keep the video a secret.
The evidence includes portions of Pelosi’s Oct. 28 911 call, as well as video footage from Capitol police surveillance cameras, body cameras worn by the two police officers who arrived at the home, and video of the suspect’s interview with police.
The video from the Capitol Police Department shows DePape walking to a glass paneled door, leaving, then returning with a large backpack and two other bags. He put everything down and took out a hammer with which he smashed the door pane and stepped through an opening.
David DePape has pleaded not guilty in pending state and federal cases. He is being held without bail.
A state court judge ruled that there was no reason to keep the video secret
/ via REUTERSMembers of Congress have faced a surge in threats in the two years since the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Mr. Pelosi was sleeping in the couple’s home when DePape reportedly broke in. Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members.
Her husband of nearly 60 years woke up in a pool of his own blood. He later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. He has since appeared in public wearing a hat and glove covering his wounds.
Police have said DePape told them there was “evil in Washington” and that he wanted to harm Nancy Pelosi because she was second in line to the presidency at the time.
DePape told police he was on a “suicide mission,” court documents say, and authorities have said he was drawn to conspiracy theories.