Trump supporter David DePape, the man accused of breaking into Nancy Pelosi’s home and striking her husband in the head with a hammer, leaving him unconscious in a pool of blood, made a confession to San Francisco police during a recorded interrogation.
DePape told police in a taped interview that he was compelled to attack over “insane” lies in Washington DC, blaming Hillary Clinton and a Democratic “crime spree” against Donald Trump. He also said he intended to “eliminate” other Democratic officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
DePape, who appeared in a San Francisco Superior Court wearing an orange jumpsuit Wednesday, was arrested on Oct. 28 after allegedly attacking Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer inside their Pacific Heights home. The judge ruled he will be tried on all charges.
The recording of DePape’s interview was played during the proceedings.
“I’m not trying to get away with it. I know exactly what I did,” he said during the interview, local station KRON reports
“The lies are insane,” he continued. “People in Washington. It originates with Hillary. Honestly, day in and day out, the person on TV lying every day was [Nancy] Pelosi. It’s f****** insane the crime spree the Democrats have been on, persecuting the rival campaign.”
Asked by a San Francisco Police Department lieutenant who was interrogating DePape if he was referring to Trump’s campaign, DePape said “yes, Trump”.
“[Democrats] go from one crime to another crime. It’s a whole f****** four years. It’s unacceptable,” he said.
DePape told police during his interview that it “was not easy” breaking into the home, according to the transcript.
“There are cameras everywhere. A thousand cameras. I broke through … and I tried to turn the handle, and of course it’s locked,” he continued. “I body slammed through it. I didn’t feel any pain. I was surprised. All that noise, he did not hear it. He was asleep. I told him I’m looking for Nancy Pelosi. He was like, ‘how can we resolve this?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.’ That’s when he started to do things.”
Mr. Pelosi, who was asleep in bed when DePape allegedly broke into the home, later told police that DePape was holding a hammer in one hand and plastic zip ties in the other and threatened to tie Mr. Pelosi while they waited for Nancy Pelosi to return.
According to the police affidavit, Pelosi was able to call 911 from a bathroom and appeared to talk with the dispatcher without alarming DePape.
“There is a gentleman here waiting for my wife to come, waiting for my wife to come back. She’s not going to be here for days so I guess we will have to wait,” Mr. Pelosi said.
The operator asked whether he needed the police or fire department.
“I don’t think so. Is the Capitol Police around? They are usually here at the house protecting my wife,” he said.
The dispatcher clarified that he was connected with San Francisco police.
“No, I understand. OK, well, what do you think? I’ve got a problem, but he says everything is good. The gentleman came into the house,” Mr. Pelosi said.
“Do you know who the person is?” the operator asked.
“No, I don’t know who he is. He told me not to do anything,” he said.
The dispatcher asked for his name and address as well as the name of the suspect.
“His name is David,” Mr. Pelosi said.
“who is David?” the dispatcher asked.
“I don’t know,” Mr. Pelosi replied. Mr. DePape then can be heard saying “I’m a friend of theirs.”
“I can stay on the phone to make sure everything is OK,” the operator replied.
“No, he’s telling me to get the hell off the phone,” Mr. Pelosi said before the call ended.
Mr. Pelosi then tried to escape in an elevator, which was blocked by DePape, he told police.
“I told him, ‘I have other targets. I can’t be stopped right now.’ If I have to go through him, I will,” according to his interview.
Mr. Pelosi tried to reassure DePape that the police were not coming, according to the police.
“I told him I’m not f****** stupid. And you’re not f****** stupid either,” DePape said in the interview.
Police arrived at the home minutes later.
A 15-second video from an officer’s body-worn camera recorded the front door opening to find both men struggling for control of a hammer, then police tackling DePape.
“I threatened him a couple times. I told him I’m here to fight,” he continued. “If you stop me, you will take the punishment instead. I yanked [the hammer] away from him, I swung at him. I jump into action. They jump into action. They are on top of me instantly.”
San Francisco Police Officer Kyle Cagney, one of two officers who responded to the attack, testified on Wednesday that DePape did not follow the commands to drop the hammer. DePape then lunged at Mr. Pelosi, according to Cagney.
In audio from the bodycam footage, an officer is heard asking “what’s going on, man?”
“Everything’s good,” DePape replies. An officer yells “drop the hammer,” to which DePape is heard saying, “uh, nope”.
During his interview, DePape told police that his intention for going to Ms. Pelosi’s home was “to hold her hostage and talk to her”.
“If she told the truth, I’d let her go. If she told a lie, I’d break her kneecaps,” he said.
DePape also said he planned to target California Gov. Gavin Newsom and that he was on a “suicide mission” and would do whatever it took to stop Congress’ “corruption and lies.”
David DePape made a confession to San Francisco police during a recorded interrogation. The tape was played in court today. “I'm not trying to get away with it. I know exactly what I did,” DePape said. pic.twitter.com/3JxhGIS0I3
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) December 14, 2022
BREAKING: Judge Stephen Murphy ruled that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office presented enough evidence in court against defendant David DePape to move the case forward to trial on all charges. The most serious charge is premeditated attempted murder. pic.twitter.com/ebRV2q3PzK
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) December 14, 2022
