Paul Pelosi Attacker David DePape's Trial Begins, Admits to Attacking Nancy Pelosi Husband and Being Into Conspiracy Theories

David DePape, the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi in their California home, is now standing on trial for attacking the businessman. However, DePape, a Trump supporter who had been following conspiracy theories, has pleaded "not guilty."

DePape actually targeted Nancy Pelosi, who was the former Speaker of the House when the Democrats still held Congress. Because of this, he is facing two federal charges, including attempted kidnapping of a federal official, according to the BBC.

If convicted he faces 20 years in prison for the attempted kidnapping charge, with another 30 years in prison for assault on a federal official's family member.

The attack left Paul Pelosi bloodied with a fractured skull. He was hospitalized for six days but was able to make a full recovery despite the horrific injuries he suffered at the age of 82. The attack on Paul Pelosi was caught on camera through bodycam footage from responding police officers. These officers were the first witnesses called in to testify in the trial.

David DePape Lawyers Say Defendant Caught Up in Conspiracy Theories Before Paul Pelosi Attack

Defense attorney Jodi Linker, who is representing David DePape, stated that she will not dispute that her client attacked Paul Pelosi because of the bodycam footage. However, she argued that he believed "with every ounce of his being" that he was taking action to stop "government corruption and the abuse of children by politicians and actors." This was a popular conspiracy theory by QAnon.

"This is not a 'whodunit.' But what the government fails to acknowledge is the 'whydunit,' and the why matters in this case," the defense attorney stated, arguing that her client is not guilty "because he was not after Nancy Pelosi to try to stop her from engaging in her official duties."

"These beliefs matter because both charges require that the government prove that Mr. DePape acted because of her performance of her official duties as a member of Congress," she added and stated that her client's beliefs are "wholly unrelated to Nancy Pelosi's official duties."

DePape had been totally consumed by QAnon conspiracy theories at the time of the attack, believing that Nancy Pelosi was part of a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles. He also had a list of targets that included other politicians, as well as Hollywood celebrities like Tom Hanks, according to CNN.

Prosecutors Argued David DePape Had a Plan To Kidnap Nancy Pelosi

However, the prosecution argued that while the former Speaker of the House was out when the attack happened, David DePape had every intention to harm the politician and drew up plans to kidnap her.

"The evidence in this case is going show that when the defendant used this hammer to break into the Pelosi's home he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi," prosecutor Laura Vartain Horn told jurors while holding a plastic bag with the hammer the suspect used to bludgeon the elderly businessman.

The prosecution argued that evidence showed DePape started planning the attack in August and the FBI has found that "he researched his targets online, collecting phone numbers and addresses, even paying for a public records service to find information about Nancy Pelosi and others."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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