A person accused of attacking US Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband has pleaded not responsible to federal prices of trying to kidnap a federal official and assaulting a federal official’s member of the family.
David DePape, showing in orange garments with out handcuffs, was assigned a public defender who entered the plea on his behalf throughout a quick courtroom look.
DePape, 42, of Richmond, a San Francisco suburb, was indicted final week on the federal prices arising from an October 28 break-in on the Pelosis’ San Francisco dwelling days earlier than the midterm elections.
The assault on Paul Pelosi occurred as threats towards lawmakers and election officers have been at all-time highs and authorities have issued warnings about rising extremism within the US.
DePape, a fringe activist drawn to conspiracy theories, additionally has individually pleaded not responsible to state prices of tried homicide, housebreaking and elder abuse.
The federal prices embrace assault upon an instantaneous member of the family of a US official with the intent to retaliate towards the official on account of the efficiency of official duties.
That carries a most sentence of 30 years in federal jail.
A second cost alleges DePape tried to kidnap a US official on account of the efficiency of official duties. That would convey a most 20 years in jail. The indictment alleges DePape meant to kidnap Nancy Pelosi.
Officers responding to Paul Pelosi’s 911 name discovered Paul Pelosi and DePape combating over a hammer, the indictment alleges.
An officer ordered DePape to drop the hammer however he responded, “ummm nope”, earlier than forcefully swinging it at Paul Pelosi, it says.
The sequence lasted about 15 seconds, it says, however left Pelosi and DePape mendacity on the ground with blood swelling round Paul Pelosi’s head. He was handled at a hospital for a fractured cranium.
Paul Pelosi instructed a 911 dispatcher that he was sleeping when a person he had by no means seen earlier than entered his bed room searching for Nancy Pelosi, who was in Washington, DC.
Officers later discovered a damaged glass door to the again porch. They recovered zip ties, a roll of tape, white rope, a second hammer, and a pair of rubber and material gloves.
DePape is being held with out bail in state custody.
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