Bodycam Footage of Hammer Attack on Paul Pelosi Released
On Friday, the San Francisco District Attorney's office released audio and video footage of the infamous hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.[0] The bodycam footage shows David DePape breaking into the Pelosi residence and attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer in front of police officers.
In the audio from the 911 call, Paul Pelosi tells the dispatcher that an intruder is in his home, “waiting for my wife to come back.”[1] The dispatcher then asks if he knows who it is, and he says he does not. “He’s telling me to put the phone down and just do what he says,” Paul Pelosi said.[2]
At the age of 42, DePape has entered a plea of not guilty for all accusations brought against him, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and elder abuse.[3] He entered a plea of not guilty to federal charges brought against him for allegedly assaulting an immediate family member of a federal official and trying to kidnap a federal officer during a home invasion.[3]
The video footage shows DePape and Pelosi struggling over the hammer when police arrive at the door. An officer orders DePape to drop the hammer, but DePape says “nope” before turning it and swinging at Paul, after which both men topple to the floor and an officer calls for a medic.[4]
Paul Pelosi suffered a fractured skull and injuries to his arms and hands during the assault. He stayed in the hospital for almost a week while he got better.[5]
In an interview with police, DePape said he had intended to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and question her over what Democrats had done to President Trump.[6] He threatened to break her kneecaps, according to the audio of police questioning, if she had lied.[6]
DePape called the KTVU newsroom from San Francisco County Jail and told our reporter he had an important message.[7] He said he attacked Paul Pelosi because people's individual liberties are under attack and he apologized for not going further.[7]
On Friday, Nancy Pelosi informed reporters at the Capitol that she has not listened to the audio recordings nor does she have any plans to view the video of the “deadly assault on my husband's life.”[8]
The attack sent Paul Pelosi, 82, to the hospital for emergency surgery on a skull fracture.
0. “Paul Pelosi video shows moment of brutal hammer attack” FOX 11 Los Angeles, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.foxla.com/news/paul-pelosi-video-shows-moment-of-brutal-hammer-attack
1. “Fox News Expert Insists No Evidence of Pelosi Break-In as Video of Break-In Plays” Yahoo News, 27 Jan. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/fox-news-expert-insists-no-223052307.html
2. “Graphic Video of Hammer Attack on Paul Pelosi Released to Public” Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/paul-pelosi-bodycam-footage-released-public-1234669524/
3. “Pelosi says she has ‘absolutely no intention’ of watching video of husband’s attack” The Hill, 27 Jan. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3833579-pelosi-says-she-has-absolutely-no-intention-of-watching-video-of-husbands-attack
4. “Body camera footage from Paul Pelosi attack released” NBC News, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/body-camera-footage-paul-pelosi-attack-released-rcna67661
5. “CCTV footage shows David DePape breaking into Paul Pelosi's home – video” The Guardian US, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2023/jan/27/cctv-footage-shows-david-depape-breaking-into-paul-pelosis-home-video
6. “Court releases video of attack on Paul Pelosi” CNN, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/27/politics/paul-pelosi-attack-video-release/index.html
7. “DePape in bizarre phone call to KTVU says he should have been ‘more prepared'” KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.ktvu.com/news/depape-in-bizarre-phone-call-to-ktvu-says-he-should-have-been-more-prepared
8. “Paul Pelosi hammer attack video released” ABC News, 27 Jan. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/paul-pelosi-hammer-attack-video-released/story?id=96675134