Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), took to the stand for the first time on Nov. 13 to deliver testimony in the trial of David DePape, the Canadian citizen who allegedly attacked him inside the couple’s San Francisco home last year.
Mr. Pelosi described the night he was attacked by suspect Mr. DePape, who had lived in the United States illegally for decades, recalling his shock at seeing a man standing in his bedroom before later revealing his trauma and recovery from the incident.
“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,” Mr. Pelosi told jurors in a California courtroom during the federal trial, which began last week.
Police said they later found a roll of tape, white rope, a second hammer, rubber and cloth gloves, and zip ties inside Mr. DePape’s backpack during a search.
Prosecutors say the attack was politically motivated and that Mr. DePape sought to “detain and injure” the former House speaker during the incident and break her kneecaps so that she would be left using a wheelchair.
Mr. DePape claimed that he carried out the attack because people’s individual liberties were being threatened.
He is facing both state and federal charges stemming from the October 2022 incident and has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary, and other felonies.
The suspect has also pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official with intent to retaliate against the official for the performance of their duties.
‘Where’s Nancy?’
Police body camera footage of law enforcement officials arriving at the scene of the attack was shown to jurors on Monday, despite lawyers for Mr. DePape arguing that the footage should not be shown to the public because it could damage his right to having a fair trial.Mr. Pelosi told the jurors that his home with Ms. Pelosi was also fitted with an alarm system with motion detectors, but that he never turned it on when he was home alone in case his movements triggered it.
Providing further details of the attack, the investment banker described being woken up by a man entering his bedroom and asking “Where’s Nancy?” to which he said he had informed the suspect that his wife was in Washington.
The suspect allegedly responded, “We’re have gonna [sic] to wait for her, I am gonna tie you up and wait for her,” Mr. Pelosi said.
“We had some conversation, with him saying she was the leader of the pack, he had to take her out, and that he was going to wait for her,” he said.
The former House Speaker’s husband explained how he had attempted to reach a phone in the elevator of the home to contact law enforcement officials but was “blocked” from doing so by Mr. DePape.
Sometime later, he was able to get to a phone in the bathroom and call 911 before Mr. DePape took the cell phone away, Mr. Pelosi testified.
After that, Mr. Pelosi convinced the suspect to go downstairs in the residence where he believed it would be easier for law enforcement officials to arrest Mr. DePape, he said.
He recalled to the jurors that he had told the suspect, “Since all your stuff is downstairs, why don’t we go downstairs? You can tie me up, and you can get some sleep.”
“I was right there, basically in front of the elevator door. He’s on my right, ... then the police knock on the door,” he said.
When officers arrived, Mr. Pelosi said, he tried to put his hand on Mr. DePape’s hammer, at which point he “pushed up and hit me in the head with the hammer,” he told jurors.
Mr. Pelosi went on to praise the “spectacular” hospital staff for helping him walk again and regain his balance following the incident. Initially after the attack, he suffered from headaches and dizzy spells, he said.
Attack Was ‘Too Traumatic’
A spokesman for Nancy Pelosi said following the attack last year that her husband had undergone surgery “to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands.”Later during Monday’s testimony, Mr. Pelosi said he has not discussed the attack with anyone and has encouraged his family not to as well “because it has been too traumatic.”
His testimony came on the second day of the trial and followed further context Monday regarding video footage from the attack from a U.S. Capitol police officer who views surveillance cameras at the Pelosis’ home, and an FBI agent who collected the electronics Mr. DePape was carrying on the night of the attack.
Other law enforcement officials, including a Bay Area Rapid Transit police sergeant and an individual providing security to Ms. Pelosi, also addressed the jury.
FBI special agent Stephanie Minor, who was in charge of the investigation into the incident, testified that video evidence showed Mr. DePape hit Mr. Pelosi at least three times.
Mr. DePape showed little emotion during most of the testimony as prosecutors detailed his alleged planned attack.
The suspect, according to his lawyers, believed this was the case “with every ounce of his being” and hit Mr. Pelosi in a “moment of despair” when police arrived at the home.
Closing arguments in the trial are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, with deliberations expected to take place later that day. A state trial for Mr. DePape has not yet been scheduled.
