Paul Pelosi attack: David DePape indicted by federal grand jury

SAN FRANCISCO — David DePape, the man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last month, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday.

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According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, David Wayne DePape, 42, of Richmond, was charged with one count of assault upon an immediate family member of a U.S. official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties. DePape was also charged with one count of attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official on account of the performance of official duties.

DePape faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the assault charge and 20 years in prison for the attempted kidnapping charge.

The federal charges are separate from the state charges being prosecuted by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, KGO-TV reported. Those charges will be handled as a separate case, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, according to the television station.

DePape was arrested on Oct. 28 by the San Francisco Police Department while he was inside the residence after police responded to a 911 call from Paul Pelosi, 82, KRON-TV reported.

Pelosi was injured after a person, later identified as DePape, broke into the couple’s home, Chief William “Bill” Scott said. He underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured skull and had been recovering for the past several days, KGO reported. He also sustained serious injuries to his right arm and hands, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Pelosi was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. He was released on Nov. 3.

In an affidavit, officials said DePape told Paul Pelosi that he was looking for Nancy Pelosi and that he intended to wait until the speaker returned to the couple’s San Francisco residence.

DePape told police he was on a “suicide mission,” according to The Washington Post. DePape allegedly said he had a target list of state and federal politicians as part of his effort to combat “lies” coming out of Washington, the newspaper reported.

Investigators later said that DePape intended to take Nancy Pelosi hostage and break her kneecaps to send a message to Congress.

DePape, a Canadian citizen, could face deportation after his criminal cases end in San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, citing officials from the Department of Homeland Security.

DePape is being held without bail on state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse, according to KGO. DePape’s public defender, Adam Lipson, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and has pledged to vigorously defend him.

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Through the years Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) puts her hand on a Bible held by her grandchildren Alexander Prowda (bottom L) and Liam Kenneally (bottom R) as she is sworn in as the House Democratic Whip, at the Statuary Hall of the Capitol February 06, 2002 in Washington, DC. Pelosi became the highest-ranking woman ever in the U.S. Congress. Her husband Paul is at (L). (Photo by Manny Ceneta/Getty Images) (Manny Ceneta/Getty Images)

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