Pelosi attack suspect David DePape was in US illegally from Canada: reports
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer last week was in the country illegally and may face deportation, immigration officials told several news outlets late Wednesday.
David DePape, 42, faces state and federal charges after authorities said he smashed a window and broke into the Pelosi family home in San Francisco early Friday. Investigators said he aimed to take Pelosi hostage and break her kneecaps to send a message to Congress. He attacked Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer after police arrived in response to a 911 call from the home, Chief William “Bill” Scott said last week.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer on Canadian national David DePape with San Francisco County Jail, Nov. 1, following his Oct. 28 arrest,” Department of Homeland Security officials said Wednesday in a statement obtained by The Washington Post and CNN.
Immigration officials issue detainers to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies when they intend to take custody of a person who has been detained upon their release. Typically, when people facing deportation also face criminal charges, removal from the U.S. comes after the criminal case is resolved, according to CNN.
Family members told Canada’s Global News that DePape grew up in British Columbia and left for California about two decades ago. Federal records obtained by The Washington Post showed that DePape came into the U.S. legally from Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego County on March 8, 2008.
Canadians visiting the U.S. typically do not need visas for stays of up to six months. If they wish to stay in the country longer, they must apply for an extension of their stay, according to officials.
It was not immediately clear when DePape’s permission to be in the U.S. ended.
A judge ordered the 42-year-old held without bond on Tuesday as he awaits trial in San Francisco. In an affidavit, federal officials said he viewed Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as the “‘leader of the pack’ of lies told by the Democratic Party.”
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden criticized the continued spread of disinformation around the 2020 presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has consistently claimed the election was stolen from him through mass voter fraud, though officials — including his former attorney general, William Barr — have said that no evidence exists to support such claims.
Biden said attacks like the one on Paul Pelosi “are the consequences of lies told for power and profit, lies of conspiracy and malice, lies repeated over and over that generate a cycle of anger, hate, vitriol and even violence.” He added that Americans are facing “a defining moment, an inflection point.”
“We must with one, overwhelming, unified voice speak as a country and say there’s no place — no place — for voter intimidation or political violence in America, whether it’s directed at Democrats or Republicans,” the president said. “No place, period. No place, ever.”
Paul Pelosi underwent surgery last week to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his arm and hands after the attack, according to a statement from Nancy Pelosi’s office. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
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Through the years Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) puts her hand on a Bible held by her grandchildren Alexander Prowda (bottom L) and Liam Kenneally (bottom R) as she is sworn in as the House Democratic Whip, at the Statuary Hall of the Capitol February 06, 2002 in Washington, DC. Pelosi became the highest-ranking woman ever in the U.S. Congress. Her husband Paul is at (L). (Photo by Manny Ceneta/Getty Images) (Manny Ceneta/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: Paul Pelosi (L) and Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attend the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Bridge Dedication Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers November 19, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) (Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 09: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive for the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Comedy at the Kennedy Center on November 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. Tina Fey, creator of the television show 30 Rock, is the recipient of this year's prize. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON - JUNE 7: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive at the White House June 7, 2011 in Washington, DC. Guests arrived to attend a state dinner being held by the Obama's for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. This is the first official visit by a European leader to the White House since Obama became president. Merkel will be presented with the 2010 Medal of Freedom at a state dinner tonight. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: Paul Pelosi (L) and US House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi attend Tony Bennett's 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at The Metropolitan Opera House on September 18, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Bennett) (Jemal Countess)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 04: Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi and Jon Bon Jovi attend the 6Th Annual Exploring the Arts Gala hosted by Tony Bennett And Susan Benedetto at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Exploring The Arts) (Larry Busacca)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 21: Congresswoman Nancy and her husband, Paul Pelosi are interviewed during the New York premiere of the HBO documentary Fall to Grace at Time Warner Center Screening Room on March 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi walk the red carpet during the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 03: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pictured with her husband, Paul Pelosi, on Capitol Hill on January 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. Under the cloud of a partial federal government shutdown, Pelosi reclaimed her former title as speaker and her fellow Democrats took control of the House of Representatives for the second time in eight years. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images) (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive in the Crypt of the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony to be the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today's inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. (Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 16: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (2nd R) and her husband Paul Pelosi (C) arrive for a reception honoring Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva Mitsotakis in the East Room of the White House on May 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Mitsotakis for bilateral meetings earlier in the day where they talked about allied efforts to "support the people of Ukraine and impose economic costs on Russia for its unprovoked aggression," according to the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 16: Paul Pelosi, husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), arrives for a reception honoring Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva Mitsotakis in the East Room of the White House on May 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Mitsotakis for bilateral meetings earlier in the day where they talked about allied efforts to "support the people of Ukraine and impose economic costs on Russia for its unprovoked aggression," according to the White House. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
