SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The person accused of breaking into Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dwelling, beating her husband and looking for to kidnap her informed police he was on a “suicide mission” and had plans to focus on different California and federal politicians, based on a Tuesday courtroom submitting.
David DePape was ordered held with out bail throughout his arraignment Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Courtroom. His public defender entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. It was the primary public look because the early Friday assault for DePape, a fringe activist drawn to conspiracy theories.
In courtroom 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 awakened in a pool of his personal blood, the submitting mentioned.
DePape allegedly mentioned he had different targets, together with a neighborhood 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 courtroom submitting. “Nothing much less.”
Sporting orange jail clothes, DePape solely spoke to inform Choose Diane Northway easy methods to pronounce his final title (dih-PAP’). The 42-year-old defendant is scheduled to return to courtroom Friday.
After the listening to, DePape’s public defender Adam Lipson mentioned he seems ahead to offering DePape with a “vigorous protection.” He additionally mentioned 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 data,” mentioned Lipson, who famous {that a} no-bail detainer in state courtroom is a moot level as a result of DePape additionally has been positioned on a federal maintain within the case.
He later mentioned he was happy that Paul Pelosi was enhancing and anticipated to make a full restoration, including he urged the general public “to not cross judgment on what he known as a sophisticated scenario.”
“From expertise, I can say that there’s at all times extra to the story than what’s initially reported,” he mentioned, noting “there are a variety of rumors and hypothesis about this incident that may have to be sorted out in courtroom as soon as we evaluate the proof.”
“Mr. DePape is entitled to a vigorous authorized protection, and we intend to provide him one,” he added.
He additionally mentioned DePape’s shoulder was dislocated throughout his arrest and that he was carrying a sling below 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 choose mentioned she didn’t get the request forward of time.
The assault on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi despatched shockwaves by way of the political world simply days earlier than the hotly contested midterm elections. Threats in opposition to lawmakers and elections officers have been at all-time highs on this first nationwide election because the Jan. 6, 2021, rebellion on the Capitol, and authorities have issued warnings about rising extremism within the U.S.
DePape faces state costs of tried homicide, housebreaking and elder abuse. He additionally faces federal costs together with tried kidnapping of a U.S. official. These costs are outlined in an affidavit detailing the assault, which was largely captured on police physique digicam imagery after authorities responded to a 911 name from the Pelosis’ Pacific Heights dwelling.
In Washington, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger offered a sobering replace Tuesday of safety protocols for members of Congress.
Manger mentioned that though many enhancements have been made because the Capitol assault, together with the hiring of almost 280 officers by the tip of this yr, “there’s nonetheless a variety of work to do.”
“We imagine as we speak’s political local weather requires extra sources to offer further layers of bodily safety for members of Congress,” he mentioned
Manger mentioned the assault on Pelosi’s husband was “an alarming reminder of the damaging threats elected officers and public figures face throughout as we speak’s contentious political local weather.”
Speaker Pelosi was in Washington on the time and below 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 mentioned the assault on Paul Pelosi seemed to be premeditated, and he or she appealed to People to “tone down” the political rhetoric.
Throughout a information convention after the arraignment listening to, Jenkins mentioned her workplace gained’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.