The man accused of attacking the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi advised police he was on a “suicide mission” and had plans to focus on different politicians.
David DePape was allegedly on the lookout for Mrs Pelosi when he attacked her husband Paul, 82, with a hammer within the early hours of final Friday.
According to court docket paperwork, earlier than he was taken away from the San Francisco residence by cops, DePape had advised them: “I’m sick of the insane f****** level of lies coming out of Washington DC.
“I got here her to have somewhat chat together with his spouse.
“I did not actually need to harm him, however you recognize this was a suicide mission.
“I’m not going to stand here and do nothing, even if it cost me my life.”
According to the court docket submitting, he additionally advised emergency staff that he had different targets, together with a neighborhood professor, a number of outstanding state and federal politicians, and members of their households.
None of those targets had been named.
‘Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?’
On Tuesday, DePape appeared in San Francisco Superior Court going through state costs of tried homicide, housebreaking and elder abuse, and federal costs together with making an attempt to kidnap a US official.
His lawyer entered a not responsible plea on his behalf earlier than a decide ordered him to be held with out bail till his subsequent look on Friday.
The court docket submitting stated that DePape had smashed his shoulder via a glass window on the Pelosi residence, confronting a sleeping Mr Pelosi.
Standing over him with a hammer and zip ties, DePape had requested: “Are you Paul Pelosi? Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?”
Mr Pelosi advised DePape that his spouse could be gone for a number of days, earlier than DePape allegedly threatened to tie him up.
Paul Pelosi known as for Capitol Police ‘as a result of they’re often on the home defending my spouse’
Mr Pelosi was in a position to name emergency providers, telling the dispatcher that he didn’t want police, fireplace or medical help however requesting the Capitol Police “because they are usually at the house protecting my wife”.
Mrs Pelosi is entitled to safety due to her function however her husband and different relations should not included on this safety.
The cellphone dialog was sufficient to concern the dispatcher, and he or she despatched police to the home for a “wellbeing check”.
The officers arrived in time to see DePape hit Mr Pelosi with the hammer no less than as soon as, hanging him on the top, in keeping with the court docket papers.
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Surgery for cranium fracture
Mr Pelosi was knocked unconscious and wakened in a pool of his personal blood, earlier than being taken to hospital for surgical procedure on a cranium fracture.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins wrote within the court docket paperwork that DePape’s intent “could not have been clearer”.
“He forced his way into the Pelosi home intending to take the person third-in-line to the presidency of the United States hostage and to seriously harm her.”
‘We’re going to be wanting into Mr DePape’s psychological state’
DePape’s lawyer Adam Lipson stated he intends to supply a “vigorous legal defence”, including: “We’re going to be doing a comprehensive investigation of what happened.
“We’re going to be wanting into Mr DePape’s psychological state, and I’m not going to speak any additional about that till I’ve extra info.”
The assault has raised additional questions concerning the security of politicians, amid rising extremism within the US.
Source: information.sky.com”