Paul Pelosi Attacker Intended to Kidnap Nancy Pelosi: Document

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a funeral in the Vatican in a June 29, 2022, file image. Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images

Paul Pelosi’s attacker intended to kidnap U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), according to a new summary of his comments to police after being arrested.

David DePape, the alleged attacker, told San Francisco police officers that he was going to hold Nancy Pelosi and speak with her, according to the summary, which was contained in an FBI affidavit supporting federal charges against DePape.

“If Nancy were to tell DEPAPE the ’truth,‘ he would let her go, and if she ’lied,‘ he was going to break ’her kneecaps,‘” the affidavit states. “DEPAPE was certain that Nancy would not have told the ’truth.’ In the course of the interview, DEPAPE articulated he viewed Nancy as the ‘leader of the pack’ of lies told by the Democratic Party.”

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,” the FBI agent who wrote the affidavit said.

Another goal of the break-in was apparently to use Nancy Pelosi “to lure another individual” to DePape, though that individual has not been identified.

Nancy Pelosi told colleagues after the attack that “a violent man broke into our family home, demanded to confront me and brutally attacked my husband Paul.”

DePape broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco early Oct. 28 and went into a bedroom where Paul Pelosi was sleeping, according to the FBI affidavit. DePape said he was looking for Nancy Pelosi. Paul Pelosi said she was not there. DePape said he would wait, Paul Pelosi said. DePape recounted telling Paul Pelosi that he wanted to tie him up so that DePape could get some rest as “he was tired from having had to carry a backpack to the Pelosi residence.”

DePape then removed twist ties from his pocket while Paul Pelosi began moving to another part of the house. DePape “stopped him and together they went back into the bedroom,” according to the affidavit.

That’s when Paul Pelosi went to a bathroom and called 911.

San Francisco police officers and FBI agents outside the Pelosi residence in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

According to dispatch audio, Paul Pelosi told a dispatcher that he was with “a friend” and that the friend wanted to wait for his wife.

The dispatcher intuited that something was amiss and sent officers to the home, San Francisco authorities have said.

DePape told officers that he thought the call would trigger a response but that he did not leave “because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender,” according to the FBI affidavit.

DePape and Paul Pelosi moved downstairs. When officers knocked on the front door, Paul Pelosi opened the door, according to the affidavit. Officers saw DePape and Paul Pelosi holding the same hammer, San Francisco authorities have said. DePape pulled the hammer away struck Paul Pelosi at least once in front of the officers.

That’s when officers tackled DePape to the ground and rendered medical aid to Paul Pelosi.

DePape told officers that Paul Pelosi’s actions results in him “taking the punishment instead,” according to the affidavit.

DePape and Paul Pelosi were both taken to a hospital for treatment. Paul Pelosi underwent surgery for a skull fracture and injuries to his hands, according to Nancy Pelosi’s office.

Paul Pelosi’s condition “continues to improve,” Nancy Pelosi said in a statement over the weekend.

DePape was charged with assault and attempted kidnapping by federal authorities and a number of felonies, including attempted murder, by local prosecutors.

He faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted on the federal charges and up to life in prison if convicted of the other charges.