SAN FRANCISCO — The man accused of attacking former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer apologized Tuesday, echoing right-wing conspiracy theories to clarify to jurors that he went to the Pelosis’ dwelling as half an even bigger plot to finish what he considered as authorities corruption.
David DePape spoke for greater than an hour through which he tearfully recounted about how his political leanings went from leftist to proper wing after studying a touch upon a YouTube video about former President Donald Trump. He stated he bludgeoned Paul Pelosi after realizing his bigger plan is likely to be unraveling.
Testimony wrapped up later Tuesday, with closing arguments anticipated Wednesday. DePape has pleaded not responsible to tried kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the rapid member of the family of a federal official with intent to retaliate in opposition to the official for efficiency of their duties. His attorneys argue that he was not searching for to go after Nancy Pelosi due to her official duties as a member of Congress and so the fees don’t match.
The assault occurred within the early hours of Oct. 28, 2022, simply days earlier than the midterm elections.
DePape, 43, stated he went to the Pelosis’ dwelling to speak to Nancy Pelosi about Russian involvement within the 2016 election, and that he deliberate to put on an inflatable unicorn costume and add his interrogation of her on-line. Prosecutors say he had rope and zip ties with him.
DePape testified that his plan was to get Nancy Pelosi and different targets to confess to their corruption. “If she lied, I would break her kneecaps,” he stated. “The choice is on her.”
He then needed President Joe Biden to pardon the targets “so we can move forward as a country,” he stated.
In testimony Monday, Paul Pelosi recounted the assault publicly for the primary time. He recalled being woke up by a person bursting into the bed room door and asking, “Where’s Nancy?” He stated that when he responded that his spouse was in Washington, DePape stated he would tie him up whereas they waited for her.
Paul Pelosi stated he managed to name police, however when officers arrived, DePape hit him with a hammer. He stated DePape advised him he was going to have “to take you out.”
DePape stated that he felt dangerous for Pelosi after listening to testimony from a neurosurgeon who operated on him after the assault and testified Pelosi had two wounds on his head, together with a fracture to his cranium that needed to be mended with plates and screws. Pelosi additionally wanted stitches on accidents to his proper arm and hand.
“He was never my target and I’m sorry that he got hurt,” DePape stated.
“I reacted because my plan was basically ruined,” he stated when requested why he hit Pelosi.
DePape testified he first was drawn to right-wing conspiracies after studying about “Gamergate,” a web-based harassment marketing campaign in opposition to ladies within the video gaming group that passed off a couple of decade in the past. He stated he usually performed videogames for as much as six hours a day whereas listening to political podcasts.
He stated he believed information retailers repeatedly lied about Trump, and particularly talked about CNN. In rants posted on a weblog and on-line discussion board that have been taken down after his arrest, DePape echoed the baseless, right-wing QAnon conspiracy concept that claims the U.S. authorities is run by a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles, however he didn’t point out that Tuesday.
He allegedly advised authorities his different targets included a ladies’s and queer research professor on the University of Michigan, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks and President Joe Biden’s son Hunter. He advised jurors that he heard concerning the professor whereas listening to conservative commentator James Lindsay.
“The takeaway I got is that she wants to turn our schools into pedophile molestation factories,” stated DePape, a Canadian citizen who moved to the U.S. greater than 20 years in the past.
The professor testified that a few of her writings have been misconstrued to suit a story in opposition to the homosexual motion. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley ordered her title not be put within the public report due to threats in opposition to her.
Asked by DePape’s protection lawyer if she supported the abuse of youngsters, the professor responded, “Absolutely not.”
She stated that after Paul Pelosi was attacked, the FBI knowledgeable her that she was DePape‘s main target. She said that she told university administrators and that they have taken measures to protect her, her students, and other staff.
Other witnesses who testified Tuesday included Daniel Bernal, Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco chief of workers, and DePape neighbor Elizabeth Yates, who stated she allowed him to bathe at her dwelling as soon as per week.
If convicted, DePape faces life in jail. He has pleaded not responsible to prices in state court docket of tried homicide, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse, residential housebreaking and different felonies. A state trial has not been scheduled.
