A man already in custody in final month’s assault on the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on costs of assault and tried kidnapping.
The costs stemming from the Oct. 28 break-in on the couple’s San Francisco house are the identical as however supersede these in an earlier federal criticism that was filed on Oct. 31.
The assault roiled the political world days earlier than the hotly contested midterm elections, the primary nationwide election for the reason that Jan. 6, 2021, revolt on the U.S. Capitol. Threats in opposition to lawmakers and election officers have been at all-time highs and authorities have issued warning about rising extremism within the U.S.
David DePape, 42, of Richmond, a San Francisco suburb, was arrested on Oct. 28 contained in the Pelosi residence after San Francisco police responded to Paul Pelosi’s 911 name. He advised officers that he was sleeping when a man he had by no means seen earlier than entered his bed room in search of Nancy Pelosi.
The officers discovered 82-year-old Paul Pelosi and DePape combating over a hammer, however DePape gained management and hit Pelosi within the head, in response to the indictment. It says officers later discovered {that a} glass door to the again porch had been damaged. They recovered a roll of tape, white rope, a second hammer, a pair of rubber and fabric gloves, and zip ties.
DePape’s public defender, Adam Lipson, didn’t instantly reply to phone and emailed messages. He final week entered a not responsible plea to associated state costs filed in opposition to DePape, a fringe activist drawn to conspiracy theories who was born in Canada.
A San Francisco decide ordered DePape held with out bail on the state costs of tried assassination, robbery and elder abuse, and he additionally has been positioned on a federal maintain within the case.
He was indicted on federal costs together with assault upon a right away member of the family of a U.S. official with the intent to retaliate in opposition to the official on account of the efficiency of official duties. A second cost alleges he tried to kidnap a U.S. official on account of the efficiency of official duties.
The first cost carries a most sentence of 30 years in federal jail and the second a most 20 years in jail.
Pelosi was launched from hospital final week after he underwent surgical procedure for his accidents.
Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat who’s second within the line of succession to the presidency, was in Washington on the time of the assault.
DePape grew up in Powell River, B.C., however relocated to California to be with a girlfriend, stepfather Gene DePape advised The Associated Press final week. He stated his stepson has three youngsters with two girls.
A U.S. official who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to debate the problem, stated DePape legally entered the United States in 2000 and later left the nation and returned a number of instances, together with getting into in March 2008 at San Diego’s San Ysidro border crossing.
Most Canadians aren’t required to acquire a visa to enter the U.S. as vacationers and might keep for as much as six months. The official stated it was unclear why U.S. authorities allowed DePape to be admitted to the nation after he overstayed his entry in 2000.