The man accused of brutally attacking former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer apologized in courtroom Tuesday, whereas describing conspiracy theories about why he went to the couple’s San Francisco house to finish what he considered as authorities corruption.
In remarks that lasted greater than an hour, a tearful David DePape defined how he switched from the political left to proper after studying a touch upon a YouTube video about former President Donald Trump.
“When he was on the ground breathing, I was really scared for his life,” DePape stated in federal courtroom in San Francisco FOX San Francisco reported. “And later in the hospital, I felt really bad for him because we had a really good rapport and things were going good until the last second.”
Prosecutors allege DePape broke into the Pelosi house on the night hours of Oct. 28, 2022, in an try to seek out Nancy Pelosi. On Monday, Paul Pelosi testified that DePape repeatedly requested the place his spouse was.
PAUL PELOSI’S ACCUSED ATTACKER DAVID DEPAPE APPEARS IN CALIFORNIA COURT AS TRIAL JURY SELECTION KICKS OFF
A courtroom sketch depicts the trial of David DePape in Federal Court in San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday. DePape turned emotional whereas being questioned by his protection lawyer. (Vicki Behringer)
“The door opened and a very large man came in with a hammer in one hand and some ties in the other and he said, ‘Where’s Nancy?’ and I think that woke me up,” Pelosi stated. “I’m asleep, and he bursts in the door and that woke me up.”
“It was a tremendous shock to recognize that somebody had broken into the house and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the ties, I recognized that I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible,” he stated.
DePape stated he went to the Pelosis’ house 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.
Paul Pelosi referred to as the police throughout the house intrusion however DePape struck him with a hammer when officers arrived.
DePape, 43, stated he felt unhealthy 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.
PAUL PELOSI TESTIFIES IN TRIAL OF MAN ACCUSED OF BRUTALLY ATTACKING HIM WITH HAMMER INSIDE HOME
A courtroom sketch depicts the trial of David DePape in Federal Court in San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday. DePape testifies whereas being proven the hammer used within the alleged assault on Paul Pelosi. (Vicki Behringer)
“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 conspiracies after studying about “Gamergate,” a web-based harassment marketing campaign in opposition to ladies within the video gaming neighborhood that came about a couple of decade in the past. He stated he typically performed video video games for as much as six hours a day whereas listening to political podcasts.
He stated he believed information shops repeatedly lied about former Trump, particularly mentioning CNN. DePape echoed the baseless rants, together with a QAnon conspiracy idea that claims the U.S. authorities is run by a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles, however he didn’t point out that Tuesday.
He stated 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 instructed jurors that he heard in regards to 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 unidentified 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.”
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She stated that after Paul Pelosi was attacked, the FBI knowledgeable her that she was DePape’s foremost goal. She stated that she instructed college directors and that they’ve taken measures to guard her, her college students, and different employees.
Other witnesses included Daniel Bernal, Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco chief of employees, and DePape neighbor Elizabeth Yates, who stated she allowed him to bathe at her house as soon as per week.
Closing arguments are anticipated on Wednesday. DePape faces life in jail if convicted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
