Featured Image Credit: Police
Topics: US News, Politics, Conspiracy Theories, Crime, Nancy Pelosi, Police
Daisy Phillipson
Topics: US News, Politics, Conspiracy Theories, Crime, Nancy Pelosi, Police
WARNING: This article contains footage that some might find distressing.
Police have released shocking bodycam footage of the moment Paul Pelosi was attacked by an intruder with a hammer.
Paul, the husband of former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi, was attacked at the couple's home on October 28.
The perpetrator, 42-year-old David DePape, is a conspiracy theorist who told police he believed he was saving the U.S. from 'tyranny'.
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Paul was knocked unconscious by the weapon, and a spokesperson for his politician wife said he had to undergo surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his arm and hands.
Despite the fact that DePape was motivated by misinformation, further conspiracies have circulated about the attack.
When the news broke, Hilary Clinton tweeted: "The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories. It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result."
But Elon Musk replied saying, "There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye," while sharing a link to a story suggesting without evidence that Paul was drunk and attacked by a male prostitute.
Authorities initially kept the bodycam and surveillance footage, as well as audio recordings including DePape's police interview, out of public view.
However, following a motion from various news outlets demanding transparency, San Francisco Superior Court ruled that the recordings must be released.
CCTV footage shared yesterday (January 27) clearly dispels the theory as it shows DePape scouting the outside of the Pelosis' San Francisco home before smashing his way in with the hammer.
Additionally, police cameras captured the moment officers arrived at the property as the 82-year-old tried to fend off the intruder.
Footage shows Paul as he holds onto the head of the hammer before DePape pulls it away and takes a swing at his head. The officers then rush over to arrest the attacker as Paul lays on the floor unconscious.
Nancy, who recently stepped down as Democratic leader, told reporters that she's not going to watch the upsetting recordings.
She said: "I have not heard the 911 call. I have not heard the confession. I have not seen the break-in. And I have absolutely no intention of seeing the deadly assault on my husband."
While she said her husband is 'making process', his recovery is going to 'take more time'.
In an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, Nancy responded to reports that DePape had actually broken into the house to attack her.
"I feel very sad about it because of what happened, but also more sad because the person was searching for me," she said.
"My dear husband, who is not even that political actually, paid the price."
The suspect's police interview was also released, with the 42-year-old telling officers in a rambling statement: "It’s like the Founding Fathers, they fought the British. They fought the tyranny. They didn’t just f**king turn into it.
"And when I left my house, I went to fight tyranny. I did not leave to surrender. I’m not going to surrender – I’m here for the fight."
DePape pleaded not guilty on the charges against him, including assault and attempted murder, and is set to face trial.