The man who allegedly attacked U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband early Friday posted memes and conspiracy theories on Facebook about COVID-19 vaccines, the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol, and an acquaintance informed CNN that he appeared “out of contact with actuality.”
David DePape, 42, was recognized by police Friday because the suspect in the assault on Paul Pelosi on the speaker’s San Francisco residence.
Two of DePape’s relations informed CNN that DePape is estranged from his household, and confirmed that the Facebook account — which was taken down by the social media firm on Friday — belonged to him.
His stepfather, Gene DePape, mentioned David DePape grew up in Powell River, B.C., and left Canada about 20 years in the past to pursue a relationship that introduced him to California.
“I actually do not know what to assume,” the suspect’s uncle, Mark DePape, mentioned of his nephew’s alleged assault on Pelosi. “Hopefully it is a rip-off. I do not need to hear one thing like that.”
Last 12 months, David DePape posted hyperlinks on his Facebook web page to a number of movies produced by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell falsely alleging that the 2020 election was stolen. Other posts included transphobic photographs and linked to web sites claiming COVID-19 vaccines have been lethal. “The loss of life charges being promoted are what ever ‘THEY’ need to be promoted because the loss of life charge,” one put up learn.
DePape additionally posted hyperlinks to YouTube movies with titles like “Democrat FARCE Commission to Investigate January sixth Capitol Riot COLLAPSES in Congress!!!” and “Global Elites Plan To Take Control Of YOUR Money! (Revealed)”
Two days after former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was discovered responsible of killing George Floyd, DePape wrote that the trial was “a contemporary lynching,” falsely indicating that Floyd died of a drug overdose.
He additionally posted content material concerning the “Great Reset”– the sprawling conspiracy idea that world elites are utilizing coronavirus to usher in a brand new world order in which they achieve extra energy and oppress the lots. And he complained that politicians making guarantees to attempt to win votes “are providing you bribes in trade in your additional enslavement.”
Most of the general public posts on DePape’s Facebook web page have been from 2021. In earlier years, DePape additionally posted lengthy screeds about faith, together with claims that “Jesus is the anti christ.” None of the general public posts appeared to say Pelosi.
Two former acquaintances of DePape’s in California informed CNN he exhibited regarding behaviour over time.
Linda Schneider mentioned she acquired to know DePape roughly eight years in the past and that he often housesat for her. When they met, she mentioned, DePape was residing in a storage unit in the Berkeley space and informed her he had been combating laborious medicine however was “attempting to create a brand new life for himself.”
Schneider later acquired “actually disturbing” emails from DePape in which he gave the impression of a “megalomaniac and so out of contact with actuality,” she mentioned. She mentioned she stopped speaking with him “as a result of it appeared so harmful,” including that she recalled him “utilizing Biblical justification to do hurt.”
Laura Hayes, who additionally lives in California, mentioned she labored with DePape for a number of months roughly a decade in the past making hemp bracelets when he was residing in a storage shed in the Berkeley space. She mentioned DePape bought the bracelets as a enterprise.
“He was very odd. He did not make eye contact very nicely,” Hayes mentioned. She recalled him saying that “he talks to angels and there can be a tough time coming.” But she did not keep in mind any critically threatening feedback, and mentioned she did not assume a lot of it as a result of “it is Berkeley,” a spot the place eccentric characters aren’t unusual.
Hayes, who was Facebook pals with DePape, referred to as his newer posts “so phobic in so some ways” and crammed with “a lot anger.”