Paul Pelosi released from hospital after hammer attack as suspect could be deported from the US
San Francisco, California - Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was released from the hospital Thursday, six days after he was severely beaten inside the couple’s home. Now, new details have emerged on his attacker, citing he is in the US illegally and could be deported.
In a statement, Speaker Pelosi said her husband "remains under doctors' care as he continues to progress on a long recovery process and convalescence."
Paul Pelosi is recovering from what officials said was a successful surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital "to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands."
Pelosi was attacked when an intruder broke into the couple’s Pacific Heights home last Friday.
Federal prosecutors said David DePape entered the Pelosis’ home by smashing a rear glass door with a hammer around 2 AM, then went to the second floor. There, he found Paul Pelosi sleeping, and reportedly shouted, "Where’s Nancy?" repeatedly.
DePape has been charged with attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official and their family. He faces 13 years to life in prison if convicted of all local charges, and he has pleaded not guilty. He also faces federal assault and kidnapping charges.
On Friday, he waived his appearance in a San Francisco Superior Court, according to CNN. A status hearing was set for November 28, with a preliminary hearing scheduled on December 14.
Yet, DePape may be seeing even more consequences, as it turns out he is not a US citizen.
David DePape is not a US citizen and may be deported after break-in attack on Paul Pelosi
DePape has been found to be residing in the US illegally and could be deported to Canada, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Thursday.
Federal authorities said DePape, who grew up in British Columbia and moved to California more than 20 years ago, according to a family member who spoke with the Los Angeles Times, had plotted to take Nancy Pelosi, hostage and break her kneecaps, calling her the "leader of the pack" of lies told by the Democratic Party.
Records pulled by ICE found that DePape entered the US as a temporary visitor in March 2008 at the San Ysidro port of entry. Canadians who enter as temporary visitors generally do not require a visa, officials said. The status DePape used to enter the US generally allows Canadians to stay for six months.
On Tuesday, ICE officials issued an immigration detainer on DePape with the San Francisco County Jail, where he is currently being held without bail.
The detainer seeks a notification from San Francisco law enforcement to notify ICE before he is released in order for the federal agency to take custody of him. Local and state laws limit when jail officials can notify ICE of an individual’s release date.
ICE issues detainers against people facing criminal charges whom the agency has probable cause to believe can be deported.
Police have not offered a motive for the attack. But San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Monday that based on DePape’s statements and comments to Pelosi, it "was politically motivated." A Times review of his online accounts showed that DePape has been involved in the world of far-right conspiracies, antisemitism and hate.
Paul Pelosi was alone at the time of the break-in. The speaker was in Washington with her protective detail. Realizing the potential danger, Paul Pelosi managed to make a quick, surreptitious phone call to emergency services and left the line open, authorities said. A 911 dispatcher realized something was seriously wrong and immediately sent police to the address. Officers were told there was a man inside the home named David, whom Pelosi did not know.
In a motion seeking to deny bail, the San Francisco district attorney’s office said DePape told officers and medics at the scene, "I’m sick of the insane f**king level of lies coming out of Washington DC."
Judge Diane Northway ordered DePape to be held without bail pending additional hearings.
Prosecutors allege DePape had other targets in mind — including a Bay Area professor and prominent state and federal politicians and their families — when he broke into the Pelosis’ home. He planned to wait for the speaker to return, a motion to deny his bail noted.
Cover photo: Collage: REUTERS