San Francisco authorities have released video footage of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, being struck by an intruder's hammer as police rushed into their home to stop the attack.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The police body camera footage of the October 28 violence was released on Friday alongside a surveillance video showing the alleged attacker, David DePape, 42, smashing through a glass window to get into the couple's San Francisco home.
Also released was a 911 call from a distressed Paul Pelosi, who was talking to the dispatcher with DePape apparently beside him.
In the footage, two police officers knock on the door at the Pelosis' home. When the door opens, Pelosi and DePape can both be seen clutching a large hammer.
DePape tells police officers that, "Everything's good," at which point the officers instruct him to drop the hammer.
DePape then appears to tear the hammer fully away from Pelosi, who is in sleep wear, before striking him with a powerful overhand blow. The two officers then charge inside - one of them shouting an expletive - tackling DePape, and then calling for back-up and medics.
Pelosi, lying still, can be seen partially under the body of DePape, while he is being restrained by the officers.
The attack by the assailant who was searching for the House of Representatives speaker, shocked Washington and renewed concerns about a breakdown in civility and a rise in political violence.
It also highlighted the limitations of the US Capitol Police (USCP), which is charged with protecting Congress and the representatives who serve in it.
Many USCP officers were injured during the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, with four committing suicide in its aftermath. The rioters burst through security barriers, with some making it clear that they were looking for Nancy Pelosi in the Capitol. One rioter was seen lounging at her desk.
In a November 17 interview with reporters after she announced she would not seek re-election to a Democratic leadership position, Pelosi described the severity of her husband's wounds and the "traumatic effect" of the intrusion.
"If he had fallen or slipped on the ice in an accident and hit his head, it would be horrible. But to have it be an assault on him because they were looking for me is really - call it survivor's guilt or something. But the traumatic effect on him, this happened in our house, in our home, a crime scene," Pelosi said.
After the attack, Pelosi underwent emergency surgery for his wounds, which included a fractured skull. He was released from the hospital several days later but is experiencing a long recovery process.
DePape has been indicted on federal attempted kidnapping and assault charges, as well as state charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, elder abuse, false imprisonment and threatening a public official.
He has pleaded not guilty to the state charges. The San Francisco Public Defender's Office declined to comment on Friday, as did the San Francisco Police Department.
USCP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Australian Associated Press
