Paul Pelosi has recounted publicly for the first time what happened the night he was attacked by a man in the San Francisco home he shares with former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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"It was a tremendous sense of shock to recognise that somebody had broken into the house and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the ties, I recognised that I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible," Pelosi told jurors as he testified in the trial of David DePape, who is shown on video carrying out the attack.
Prosecutors say DePape bludgeoned Pelosi in the early hours of October 28, 2022, and that he had rope and zip ties with him.
DePape has 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 performance of their duties.
Defence attorney Jodi Linker told jurors last week that she will argue DePape believed "with every ounce of his being" that he was taking action to stop government corruption, the erosion of freedom in the United States, and the abuse of children by politicians and actors. She said that means the government's charges that DePape was trying to retaliate or interfere with Nancy Pelosi's official duties don't fit.
Paul 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."
He recalled being awakened by a man bursting into the bedroom door asking, "Where's Nancy?" He said that when he responded that his wife was in Washington, DePape said he would tie him up while they waited for her.
Pelosi recounted how DePape had let him enter the bathroom, where Pelosi was able to grab his mobile phone and call 911 as DePape looked on, urging Pelosi to tell police that he was a friend. Pelosi said he tried to tell police what was happening without aggravating DePape.
Pelosi said he then suggested the two head downstairs after DePape told him he was tired and wanted to sleep. Pelosi recalled being thankful when the police arrived, only for DePape to then hit him with the hammer. He said he woke up in a pool of his own blood.
He later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands.
If convicted, DePape faces life in prison. He also has pleaded not guilty to charges in state court of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other felonies.
After his arrest, the 43 year old allegedly told a San Francisco detective that he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage. He said if she told him the truth, he would let her go and if she lied, he was going to "break her kneecaps" to show other members of Congress there were "consequences to actions," according to prosecutors.
He allegedly told authorities he also had other targets, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks, President Joe Biden's son Hunter and a women's and queer studies professor.
Australian Associated Press
