Justice Department charges suspect in Paul Pelosi attack with attempted kidnapping and assault

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On Monday, the Justice Department filed two charges in federal court against the suspect in Friday’s brutal attack on Pau Pelosi,, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Prosecutors charged the suspected assailant, David DePape, with attempted kidnapping and assault with intent to retaliate against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member. The 42-year-old DePape is also expected to appear in court this week on separate state charges. The FBI and San Francisco police said DePape would be arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, elder abuse, threatening a public official, or family member, among others.

Paul Pelosi, 82, currently remains in the intensive care unit surrounded by family members. On Friday, he “underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands,” Pelosi’s office said. His doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Sources say that Pelosi is awake and has all of his cognitive functioning, and appears to remember everything from the night of the attack, telling the FBI, San Francisco police, Capitol Police and district attorney his version of events.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said officers arrived at the Pelosi home just before 2:30 a.m. PT and observed “Mr. Pelosi and the suspect both holding a hammer. The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it.”  The suspect was allegedly searching for the House speaker, who was in Washington, D.C.; before the assault occurred, the intruder confronted Paul Pelosi shouting, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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