Federal prosecutors claim that the man accused of assaulting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at their house told investigators that he intended to break Nancy Pelosi’s kneecaps as a warning to other Democratic members of Congress. According to the Justice Department, they charged David Wayne DePape, 42, with two felonies in connection with the attack on Monday.
DePape was charged with one count of attempted kidnapping of a US official on account of performing official responsibilities as well as one count of assaulting an immediate family member of a US official with the intent to retaliate against the official.
According to an FBI affidavit that was attached to the lawsuit, DePape admitted to wanting to shatter the House speaker’s knees when he entered her home during an interview with San Francisco Police Department officers following his detention.
DePape, who published antisemitic rants and predictions about the 2020 election on social media, admitted to authorities that he had intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi if she were at home. Pelosi and her security team were in Washington, DC, at the time.
DePape went on to say that he viewed her as the “leader of the pack” among Democrats and that he wanted to break her kneecaps so she would have to be wheeled into Congress, which “would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,” according to the FBI affidavit. If she told the “truth,” he would let her go, but if she “lied,” he would break “her kneecaps,” the affidavit said.
According to Paul Pelosi, DePape entered the Pelosi home early on Friday morning while he was asleep. Shortly after, he dialed 911. According to two officers who responded to the call, when they arrived on the scene, they noticed Pelosi and DePape arguing over a hammer before DePape took it and hit Pelosi in the head with it, prompting DePape to be detained.
Paul Pelosi was taken to the hospital after the incident, and according to the police, he needed surgery after sustaining blunt force wounds to his head and body. He is expected to fully recover.