SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The person accused of breaking into Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s residence, beating her husband and searching for to kidnap her instructed police he was on a “suicide mission” and had plans to focus on different California and federal politicians, in keeping with a Tuesday court docket submitting.
David DePape was ordered held with out bail throughout his arraignment Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court docket. His public defender entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. It was the primary public look for the reason that early Friday assault for DePape, a fringe activist drawn to conspiracy theories.
In court docket papers filed Tuesday, prosecutors detailed the assault in stark phrases as a part of their bid to maintain DePape behind bars. Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious by the hammer assault and awoke in a pool of his personal blood, the submitting stated.
DePape allegedly stated he had different targets, together with an area professor in addition to a number of outstanding state and federal politicians – and members of their households.
“This case calls for detention,” Jenkins wrote within the court docket submitting. “Nothing much less.”
Carrying orange jail clothes, DePape solely spoke to inform Decide Diane Northway learn how to pronounce his final title (dih-PAP’). The 42-year-old defendant is scheduled to return to court docket Friday.
After the listening to, DePape’s public defender Adam Lipson stated he seems ahead to offering DePape with a “vigorous protection.” He additionally stated he met DePape on Monday night time for the primary time and had not seen the police reviews but.
“We’re going to be doing a complete investigation of what occurred. We’re going to be trying into Mr. DePape’s psychological state, and I’m not going to speak any additional about that till I’ve extra info,” stated Lipson, who famous {that a} no-bail detainer in state court docket is a moot level as a result of DePape additionally has been positioned on a federal maintain within the case.
He later stated he was happy that Paul Pelosi was bettering and anticipated to make a full restoration, including he urged the general public “to not move judgment on what he referred to as an advanced scenario.”
“From expertise, I can say that there’s at all times extra to the story than what’s initially reported,” he stated, noting “there are quite a lot of rumors and hypothesis about this incident that may must be sorted out in court docket as soon as we assessment the proof.”
“Mr. DePape is entitled to a vigorous authorized protection, and we intend to provide him one,” he added.
He additionally stated DePape’s shoulder was dislocated throughout his arrest and that he was sporting a sling beneath his jail clothes through the listening to.
The Pelosi household had requested for a Zoom hyperlink to have the ability to watch Tuesday’s proceedings however the decide stated she didn’t get the request forward of time.
The assault on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi despatched shockwaves by the political world simply days earlier than the hotly contested midterm elections. Threats against lawmakers and elections officers have been at all-time highs on this first nationwide election for the reason that Jan. 6, 2021, revolt on the Capitol, and authorities have issued warnings about rising extremism within the U.S.
DePape faces state fees of tried homicide, housebreaking and elder abuse. He additionally faces federal fees together with tried kidnapping of a U.S. official. These fees are outlined in an affidavit detailing the assault, which was largely captured on police physique digital camera imagery after authorities responded to a 911 name from the Pelosis’ Pacific Heights residence.
In Washington, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger supplied a sobering replace Tuesday of safety protocols for members of Congress.
Manger stated that though many enhancements have been made for the reason that Capitol assault, together with the hiring of almost 280 officers by the top of this 12 months, “there’s nonetheless quite a lot of work to do.”
“We consider right now’s political local weather requires extra sources to supply further layers of bodily safety for members of Congress,” he stated
Manger stated the assault on Pelosi’s husband was “an alarming reminder of the damaging threats elected officers and public figures face throughout right now’s contentious political local weather.”
Speaker Pelosi was in Washington on the time and beneath the safety of her safety element, which doesn’t lengthen to relations. She swiftly returned to San Francisco, the place her husband was hospitalized and underwent surgical procedure for a cranium fracture and different accidents.
District Lawyer Brooke Jenkins stated the assault on Paul Pelosi seemed to be premeditated, and she or he appealed to Individuals to “tone down” the political rhetoric.
Throughout a information convention after the arraignment listening to, Jenkins stated her workplace received’t launch the 911 recording or police bodycam footage until they’re offered at trial.
Mascaro reported from Washington. Related Press writers Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed.