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noviembre 15, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO — The person accused of attacking former US Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer apologized Tuesday, echoing right-wing conspiracy theories to clarify to jurors that he went to the Pelosis’ house as half a much bigger plot to finish what he seen as authorities corruption.
David DePape spoke for greater than an hour by which he tearfully recounted about how his political leanings went from leftist to right-wing after studying a touch upon a YouTube video about former President Donald Trump.
He mentioned he bludgeoned Paul Pelosi after realizing his bigger plan could be unraveling.
Testimony wrapped up later Tuesday, with closing arguments anticipated Wednesday.
DePape has pleaded not responsible to tried kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the instant member of the family of a federal official with intent to retaliate towards the official for efficiency of their duties.
His attorneys argue that he was not searching for to go after Nancy Pelosi due to her official duties as a member of Congress and so the costs don’t match.
The assault occurred within the early hours of Oct. 28, 2022, just days before the midterm elections.
DePape mentioned he went to the Pelosis’ house to speak to Nancy Pelosi about Russian involvement within the 2016 election, and that he deliberate to put on an inflatable unicorn costume and add his interrogation of her on-line.
Prosecutors say he had rope and zip ties with him.
DePape testified that his plan was to get Nancy Pelosi and different targets to confess to their corruption and ultimately get President Joe Bident to pardon all of them.
“It’s simply simpler giving them a pardon so we will transfer ahead as a rustic,” he mentioned, crying.
In testimony Monday, Paul Pelosi recounted the assault publicly for the primary time. He recalled being woke up by a person bursting into the bed room door asking, “The place’s Nancy?” He mentioned that when he responded that his spouse was in Washington, DePape mentioned he would tie him up whereas they waited for her.
He testified that he was ultimately capable of name police from his cellphone. When officers arrived, DePape hit him with a hammer, Pelosi mentioned, including that DePape advised him he was going to have “to take you out.”
DePape mentioned that he felt actually unhealthy for Pelosi after listening to testimony from a neurosurgeon who operated on him after the assault and testified Pelosi had two wounds on his head, together with a fracture to his cranium that needed to be mended with plates and screws.
Pelosi additionally wanted stitches on accidents in his proper arm and hand.
“He was by no means my goal and I’m sorry that he bought harm,” DePape mentioned.
“I reacted as a result of my plan was principally ruined,” he mentioned when requested why he hit Pelosi.
Protection legal professional Jodi Linker advised jurors final week that DePape believed he was taking motion to cease authorities corruption, the erosion of freedom in america, and the abuse of youngsters by politicians and actors.
DePape testified he first was drawn to right-wing conspiracies after studying about “Gamergate,” a web-based harassment marketing campaign towards ladies within the video gaming group that befell a couple of decade in the past.
He mentioned he typically performed video video games for as much as six hours a day whereas listening to political podcasts.
He heard about certainly one of his targets, a College of Michigan professor, whereas listening to conservative commentator James Lindsay.
“The takeaway I bought is that she desires to show our colleges into pedophile molestation factories,” he mentioned.
In rants posted on a weblog and on-line discussion board that had been taken down after his arrest, DePape uestioned the outcomes of the 2020 election and echoed the baseless, right-wing QAnon conspiracy principle that claims the U.S. authorities is run by a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles.
The professor testified that a few of her writings have been misconstrued to suit a story towards the homosexual motion. U.S. District Decide Jacqueline Scott Corley ordered her title not be put within the public document due to threats towards her.
Requested by DePape’s protection legal professional if she supported the abuse of youngsters, the professor responded, “Completely not.”
She mentioned that after Paul Pelosi was attacked, the FBI knowledgeable her that she was DePape’s fundamental goal.
She mentioned that she advised college directors and that they’ve taken measures to guard her, her college students, and different workers.
After his arrest, DePape, 43, allegedly advised a San Francisco detective that he needed to carry Nancy Pelosi hostage.
He mentioned if she advised him the reality, he would let her go and if she lied, he was going to “break her kneecaps” to indicate different members of Congress there have been “penalties to actions,” in response to prosecutors.
Different witnesses who testified Tuesday included Daniel Bernal, Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco chief of workers, and DePape neighbor Elizabeth Yates, who mentioned she allowed him to bathe at her house as soon as every week.
If convicted, DePape faces life in jail. He has pleaded not responsible to prices in state courtroom of tried homicide, assault with a lethal weapon, elder abuse, residential housebreaking and different felonies.
A state trial has not been scheduled.
