SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Paul Pelosi testified in federal court on Monday, November 13 that he realized he was "in serious danger" as soon as he woke up and saw a huge, unidentified man standing in his bedroom with a hammer and zip ties.
The 83-year-old husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recalled the harrowing moment as he took the stand at the trial of David DePape, who stands accused of assaulting him in a politically motivated attack on October 28, 2022.
The 43-year-old Canadian citizen has pleaded not guilty to two federal felonies: assaulting a member of the official's immediate family in retribution for the official's execution of her duties and attempting to abduct a US official.
If convicted, he faces life in prison, according to the Associated Press. However, DePape has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What did Paul Pelosi say in his testimony?
During his testimony, Pelosi stated that he didn't turn on his house alarm before going to bed, which is why there was no alert when the attacker broke the glass of a rear door to enter.
He added that DePape demanded to know the whereabouts of his wife as he found him in his bedroom.
"The door opened, and a very large man came in with a hammer in one hand and some ties in the other, and he said, 'Where’s Nancy?' I think that woke me up," Pelosi testified, adding, "I’m asleep, and he bursts in the door, and that woke me up.”
Pelosi said he recognized he “was in serious danger” when he found the attacker with a hammer and zip ties. ]
"He was standing in the doorway, and I assume he was 3, 4 feet away from me. It was a tremendous sense of shock to see somebody broken into the house,” he claimed.
DePape allegedly threatened to tie him up and wait for her to return when Pelosi informed his assailant that his wife was in Washington, DC.
During the violent interaction, Pelosi managed to call 911 and told the dispatcher “This gentleman just came into the house and wants to wait here until my wife comes home and, anyway, he’s telling me to put the phone down.”
Despite Pelosi's composed behavior, the dispatcher sensed a potential danger and dispatched police to the residence.
Why did Paul Pelosi take David DePape downstairs?
Pelosi said he knew his best chance to survive was to get downstairs and that’s why he told DePape “Since all your stuff is downstairs, why don’t we go downstairs? You can tie me up, and you can get some sleep.”
Pelosi attempted to grab DePape's hand with the hammer as the cops arrived, but DePape shoved him away and started hitting him instead.
Assistant US Attorney Laura Vartain asked Pelosi what he remembered next, and he said: “Waking up in a pool of blood.”
Pelosi said that the vicious attack is still causing him headaches and dizzy episodes. However, he quipped that he's pleased his hair has grown back, saying it "must be Italian roots or something."
Pelosi's testimony was concluded without any cross-examination by DePape’s defense lawyers, who don't contest that their client was the attacker, according to NBC News.
However, before leaving the stand, Pelosi admitted that he was trying to forget to horrific night. "I made the best effort I possibly can to not relive this,” he claimed.
