SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—The man who allegedly assaulted Paul Pelosi with a hammer pleaded not guilty on Nov. 1 to attempted murder and other charges during his first court appearance.
A public defender representing the man, David DePape, 42, entered the pleas during a hearing in San Francisco Superior Court.
DePape, wearing an orange jumpsuit, did not speak during the hearing.
Prosecutors motioned for no bail. The defense waived the right to a hearing within 10 days. DePape will be held without bail until at least Nov. 4, when the next hearing is scheduled.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins had said her office would petition for no bail “based on the obvious and severe public safety risks that the defendant poses to San Francisco as well as the outer community.”
Federal authorities have a hold on DePape, which means that even if bail was granted, he still would not be released, Adam Lipson, the public defender, told reporters after the hearing.
DePape was charged with a slew of felonies by San Francisco authorities , including attempted murder, elder abuse, and assault with a deadly weapon, after allegedly attacking Paul Pelosi inside the Pelosi residence on Oct. 28.
Lipson said that he has not had an opportunity to see the police reports and met with his client for the first time late Monday.
“So I’m not going to add to all the speculation by talking about the facts of this case right now,” Lipson said. “What I will say is that there’s also been a lot of speculation regarding Mr. DePape’s vulnerability to misinformation. And that’s certainly something that we’re going to look into, that we’re going to delve into as his defense team. But again, it would be premature to talk about that at this time.”
A protective order entered Tuesday forbids DePape from contacting the Pelosis and requires him to stay away from them and their home.
DePape was also charged by federal prosecutors with assault and attempted kidnapping.
According to charging documents, DePape broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and proceeded to a bedroom, where he woke up Paul Pelosi.
DePape said he was looking for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Paul Pelosi’s wife.
Paul Pelosi was able to call 911 from a bathroom and officers soon arrived. Officers witnessed DePape strike Paul Pelosi in the head with a hammer.
The blow caused a skull fracture, according to Nancy Pelosi’s office.
Both DePape and Paul Pelosi were taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital after the attack.
Paul Pelosi underwent surgery to address a fractured skull and other injuries. He faces “a long recovery process,” Nancy Pelosi said.
DePape has a dislocated shoulder, according to Lipson. He was wearing a sling during the hearing.
DePape was released from the hospital and transferred to jail ahead of the arraignment.
Paul Pelosi later told investigators that he had never seen DePape, though he told a dispatcher that DePape was “a friend,” according to dispatch audio.
DePape told police that he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and question her, according to an FBI affidavit supporting the federal charges.
DePape faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted on the federal charges. He faces up to life in state prison if convicted on the state charges.
From The Epoch Times