A federal criminal complaint filed this week following the assault on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, showed that the alleged assailant threatened to take the top House Democrat hostage and break her kneecaps. The motivations of the assailant were revealed in the court filing as federal prosecutors pressed charges of assault and attempted kidnapping.
The federal criminal complaint filed Monday said the man responsible, David Wayne DePape, who assaulted Mr. Pelosi upon breaking into the Pelosis' home in San Francisco Friday last week, sought to take Pelosi hostage and break her kneecaps should she lie under his questioning.
Aside from federal charges, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced during a press briefing that DePape was also being charged at the San Francisco Superior Court with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, elder abuse, and threatening a public official.
Pelosi was in Washington at the time of the break-in while her husband is currently being treated for skull fractures and injuries to his hands and right arm. Pelosi's office said Mr. Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery.
DePape was later arrested by police officers when Mr. Pelosi placed an emergency 911 call reporting an intruder, according to an FBI affidavit that is part of the federal criminal complaint. Federal prosecutors alleged that the offenses stemmed from DePape's intention to retaliate against the top House Democrat for her "performance of her official duties."
Jenkins described the incident as "politically motivated" and also comes at a time when fears are raised about partisan extremist violence especially leading up to the midterm elections in November. The upcoming elections would determine whether the Democratic Party, which Pelosi is a member of, would maintain control of both chambers of Congress or if the Republican Party would retake control of one or both chambers.
The break-in and assault were condemned by President Joe Biden, who called the attack "despicable" while calling out those who continue to spread baseless claims that sought to cast doubt on elections and for playing a part in election violence.
"Enough is enough is enough," Biden told those in attendance at an event in Philadelphia. "Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against the violence in our politics, regardless of what your politics are."