A California court has released shocking bodycam footage of the moment former chairman Nancy Pelosi’s husband was violently assaulted with a hammer at his home.
Paul Pelosi was briefly asleep at the couple’s San Francisco home on Oct. 28 when David DePape broke in and beat him with a hammer after 2 a.m., prosecutors allege.
The video shows two police officers arriving at Pelosi’s house, knocking on the door, and waiting about 20 seconds before answering.
A cop asks, “What’s going on man? Drop the hammer.”
Mr. Pelosi then tries to twist the hammer out of DePape’s hand.
But he can’t – the suspect tries to regain control of the weapon and lunges at Mr. Pelosi.
The officers present are still outside the house, allowing DePape to hit 82-year-old Mr. Pelosi, who can be seen in his pajamas, over the head.
The two police officers then rush in and tackle DePape, yelling, “Give me your goddamn hands,” while Mr. Pelosi is sprawled on the floor.
Mr. Pelosi later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands.
The release follows Judge Stephen Murphy’s order on Wednesday, who ruled there was no legal reason to keep the footage private, against prosecutors’ wishes.
News organizations argued that releasing the footage was in the public interest and would allow them to debunk unsubstantiated claims by right-wing conspiracy theorists about the attack.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, California Democrat Ms. Pelosi said she would find it “very difficult” to view the footage of the attack. “I mean, it would be very hard to see an attack on my husband’s life.”
Lawyers for DePape argued against the public release of the audio and footage, arguing that writing it would “irreparably harm” his right to a fair trial. DePape has pleaded not guilty to a litany of state and federal crimes related to the attack, including assault and attempted murder.
According to police reports, DePape was looking for Ms. Pelosi, 82, who was a lightning rod for right-wing hate, screaming “where’s Nancy?”
Ms. Pelosi, who was in D.C. at the time of the incident, stepped down from the position of House Speaker shortly afterward.