Man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi facing federal charges

Authorities on Monday filed federal charges against the man accused of beating House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, after breaking into the couple’s home in San Francisco last week.

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David Wayne DePape, 42, faces charges of assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official. In an affidavit made public Monday, officials said DePape told Paul Pelosi that he was looking for Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and that he intended to wait until she returned to the house.

Paul Pelosi told investigators that he was asleep when DePape broke into the Pelosi family’s home on Friday and walked into his bedroom. He said he was able to go into the bathroom and call 911. He told officials that he had never seen DePape before.

Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, attacked with hammer in home break-in

Two police officers responding to the 911 call around 2:30 a.m. found Paul Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer when they arrived, according to authorities. Chief William “Bill” Scott said last week that DePape got control of the hammer “and violently assaulted (Paul Pelosi) with it.” In court records, officials said DePape hit Paul Pelosi in the head, apparently knocking him unconscious.

Officers tackled DePape and restrained him, according to police and federal investigators.

Authorities said that DePape “was prepared to detain and injure Speaker Pelosi when he entered the Pelosi residence” early on Friday morning. He had zip ties, tape, rope and at least one hammer, officials said.

In an interview with police, DePape said that he planned to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and talk to her.

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Through the years 1980: Nancy Patricia Pelosi (born 1940) American politician serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2019, and previously from 2007 to 2011. She has served as a U.S. representative from California since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, Pelosi is the only woman in U.S. history to serve as speaker of the House. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Universal History Archive/Universal History Archive/Univer)

Through the years WASHINGTON, D.C. 1998 : US musician David Crosby (L) speaks with US Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) during a rally of Tibet supporters 15 June at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Tibetan-Americans along with hundreds of supporters rallied to protest China's policy toward Tibet. AFP Photo Tim SLOAN (Photo credit should read TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty Images) (TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON - JANUARY 04: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) holds up the Speaker's gavel after being elected as the first woman Speaker during a swearing in ceremony for the 110th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol January 4, 2007 in Washington, DC. Pelosi will lead House Democrats as the Democratic Party takes control of both houses of Congress. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 5: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence applaud U.S. President Donald Trump at the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump's second State of the Union address was postponed one week due to the partial government shutdown. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) (Doug Mills/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (L) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) lead fellow Congressional Democrats out of the White House following a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House April 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Democratic leaders met with Trump to discuss infrastructure. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) looks on during a news conference discussing H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, on Capitol Hill on October 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. The bill aims to end the ban on Medicare negotiating directly with drug companies, and reinvest in innovation medical treatment. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images) (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 18: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) presides over Resolution 755 as the House of Representatives votes on the second article of impeachment of US President Donald Trump at in the House Chamber at the US Capitol Building on December 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to successfully pass two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 08, 2020: (L-R) Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) join fellow Democrats from the House and Senate kneel in silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center June 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. Democrats are introducing new legislation to end excessive use of force by police across the country and make it easier to identify, track, and prosecute police misconduct following the recent deaths of unarmed African-Americans in police custody, including George Floyd, and the nationwide demonstrations demanding an overhaul of law enforcement. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 03: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) waves a gavel during the first session of the 117th Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol on January 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. Both chambers are holding rare Sunday sessions to open the new Congress on January 3, as the Constitution requires. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Through the years KYIV, UKRAINE - APRIL 30: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presents the Order of Princess Olga, a Ukrainian civil decoration, to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation on April 30, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The US Speaker of the House led a congressional delegation, which on a secret meeting with the Ukrainian president that was announced the next day, as they left the country for nearby Poland. (Photo by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Handout via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)

Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reacts after signing the CHIPS For America Act during a bill enrollment ceremony outside the U.S. Capitol July 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. The bill, which has now passed in both houses of Congress, is aimed at boosting U.S semiconductor manufacturing and science research to better compete with China. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

“If Nancy were to tell (DePape) the ‘truth,’ he would let her go, and if she ‘lied,’ he was going to break ‘her kneecaps,’” officials said in court records. “(DePape) also later explained that by breaking Nancy’s kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions.”

He told investigators that he felt like he had to respond after Paul Pelosi called 911, and that he knew there was no way authorities would ignore the 911 call.

“(DePape) explained that he did not leave after Pelosi’s call to 9-1-1 because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender,” authorities said.

Records showed DePape remained jailed Monday afternoon. He was being held without bond on charges including first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder..

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