A California court has released the police body camera video of the violent hammer attack on the husband of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Several news outlets, including KNTV, shared the video, which can be seen here. The video of the attack is graphic, contains profanity, and may be too intense for some viewers.
The video shows alleged attacker David DePape, 42, and Paul Pelosi, 82, both gripping a hammer when police officers arrive at the Pelosi’s home in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022.
DePape can be seen wrestling Paul Pelosi for the hammer and then striking the lawmaker’s husband in the head, just out of the camera’s view, fracturing his skull, CNN reported.
Court documents allege that DePape woke Paul Pelosi just after 2 a.m. on Oct. 28. DePape had brought a large hammer and several zip ties and asked, “Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?” DePape allegedly blocked Paul Pelosi from leaving via an elevator in the home and allegedly told him, “I can take you out.”
Paul Pelosi was able to call 911 when he convinced DePape to allow him to use the bathroom, CNN reported.
DePape told police that he was on a “suicide mission” and that there is “evil in Washington,” so he wanted to hurt the former speaker since she was second in line for the presidency, The Associated Press reported.
Several news outlets petitioned the San Francisco Superior Court to release video and audio recordings of the attack. Judge Stephen Murphy ordered the recordings’ release, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The media outlets said that the attack was the center of “intense public interest,” the newspaper reported. Some of the recordings were also played in court and admitted into evidence during DePape’s preliminary hearing.
DePape’s attorney said the recording should not be released because it would prejudice potential jurors and prevent DePape from getting a fair trial. The District Attorney’s Office was also concerned about making the recordings public, with officials saying they were afraid of people digitally manipulating the videos and using them to support unfounded conspiracy theories about the attack, the Chronicle reported.
DePape faces six charges in connection to the attack, including assault and attempted murder, CNN reported. He has pleaded not guilty.
He is being held in jail without bail, the AP reported.
Paul Pelosi had to undergo surgery to repair the skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands. His attack was part of the reason Rep. Nancy Pelosi stepped down from House Democratic leadership, CNN reported.
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