David DePape, the man accused of breaking into the house of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, beating her husband and seeking to kidnap her, has told police he was on a “suicide mission” and had plans to target other California and federal politicians.
DePape, who attacked the Speaker’s husband, Paul Pelosi, last Friday, said this during his arraignment in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday.
In court papers filed on Tuesday, prosecutors detailed the attack in stark terms as part of their bid to keep the 42-year-old defendant behind bars.
Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious by the hammer attack and woke up in a pool of his own blood, the court filing said.
DePape said he had other targets, including a local professor as well as several prominent state and federal politicians – and members of their families.
“This case demands detention. Nothing less,” Jenkins wrote in the court filing.
Wearing orange jail clothing, DePape only spoke to tell Judge Diane Northway how to pronounce his last name (dih-PAP’). He is scheduled to return to court Friday.
After the hearing, DePape’s public defender, Adam Lipson, said he looks forward to providing DePape with a “vigorous defence”.
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He added that he met DePape on Monday night for the first time and had not seen the police reports yet.
“We’re going to be doing a comprehensive investigation of what happened. We’re going to be looking into Mr. DePape’s mental state, and I’m not going to talk any further about that until I have more information,” Lipson, who noted that a no-bail detainer in state court is a moot point because DePape also has been placed on a federal hold in the case, said.
He later said he was pleased that Paul Pelosi was improving and expected to make a full recovery, adding he urged the public “not to pass judgment on what he called a complicated situation.”
“From experience, I can say that there’s always more to the story than what is initially reported. There are a lot of rumours and speculation about this incident that will need to be sorted out in court once we review the evidence.
“Mr DePape is entitled to a vigorous legal defence, and we intend to give him one,” Lipson added.
He stated that DePape’s shoulder was dislocated during his arrest, adding that he was wearing a sling under his jail clothing during the hearing.
The Pelosi family had asked for a Zoom link to be able to watch Tuesday’s proceedings, but the judge said she did not get the request ahead of time.
The attack on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi sent shockwaves through the political world just days before the hotly contested midterm elections.
Threats against lawmakers and elections officials have been at all-time highs in this first nationwide election since January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, and authorities have issued warnings about rising extremism in the United States.
DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary, and elder abuse. He also faces federal charges including the attempted kidnapping of a US official.
Those charges are outlined in an affidavit detailing the assault, which was largely captured on police body camera imagery after authorities responded to a 911 call from the Pelosis’ Pacific Heights home.
In Washington, US Capitol Police Chief, Tom Manger, provided a sobering update of security protocols for members of Congress on Tuesday.
Manger said although many improvements have been made since the Capitol attack, including the hiring of nearly 280 officers by the end of this year, “there is still a lot of work to do”.
“We believe today’s political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress,” he said.
Manger said the attack on Pelosi’s husband was “an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during today’s contentious political climate.”
Speaker Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members.
She swiftly returned to San Francisco, where her husband was hospitalised and underwent surgery for a skull fracture and other injuries.
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