Current Events > Pelosi attacker believed he was breaking up child sex ring

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-pelosi-attack-suspect-david-depapes-lawyer-lays-out-wild-argument-as-federal-trial-kicks-off

The man accused of bludgeoning former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband with a hammer in Oct. 2022 was driven by a bizarre, misguided plan based on the right-wing conspiracy theories with which hed become obsessed in the months leading up to the brutal attack, according to his own defense lawyer.

The federal trial against David DePape opened on Thursday, with public defender Jodi Linker saying in her opening salvo that, though the evidence against her client was clear, the prosecutions version of events was not the whole story.

What matters is what brought David to that housewhat David believed and what he intended, she said. This is not a whodunit. But what the government fails to acknowledge is the whydunit, and the why matters in this case.

DePape, 43, is facing two federal felonies: attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official and assault on an immediate family member of the official in retaliation for performance of her job. If convicted, he faces life in prison, according to the Associated Press. The trial is expected to last roughly a week.

He has yet to go on trial for the state charges separately filed against him by the San Francisco District Attorneys Office, which include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and elder abuse.

DePape has pleaded guilty to all charges.

Court documents show that DePape broke into the Pelosis San Francisco mansion around 2 a.m. and confronted Paul, demanding, Wheres Nancy? Wheres Nancy? while holding the hammer and zip ties. After Paul managed to slip into a bathroom and dial 911, two police officers knocked on the door to find both men on the other side. After one of the responding officers asked them to drop the hammer, body camera footage showed, DePape snatched it back and swung it at Paul, hitting him in the head.

Part of the footage was played in court on Thursday, leaving some jurors visibly troubled, according to the Post.

Linkler began his opening statements to the jury with a bizarre and troubling line: Tom Hanks, the actor, raped a 13-year-old girl.

He then proceeded to list off a series of incredible conspiracy theories ripped straight from the fringe right-wing websites he allegedly frequented.

Members of the jury, many of us do not believe any of that, she finally conceded. You may think it is all lies. But the evidence in this trial will show that Mr. DePape believes all these these things with every ounce of his being.

Linker told the jury on Thursday that DePapes attack on Pelosis then-82-year-old husband, Paul, had nothing to do with the then-Speaker or her duties. Instead, she argued, the why of all of this had to do with a broader notion that he was taking action to stop a larger political conspiracy he really, truly believed: That a corrupt ruling elite made up of figures like Hunter Biden, George Soros, and even Tom Hanks were actively harming children and subverting American democracy.

He did something wrong, something horrible, Linker said, according to The Washington Post, but he did not commit these two federal charges.

DePape, a Canadian citizen in the United States illegally, immersed himself in online conspiracies, questioning the results of the 2020 presidential election and ranting ceaselessly and hatefully on an online blog about perceived enemies, including the media, aliens, Democrats, Jews, and Black people.

Prosecutors countered that DePape had indeed been trying to retaliate against Pelosi for her work in the House. The evidence in this case is going show that when the defendant used this hammer to break into the Pelosis home he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Vartain Horn told the jury, holding aloft the weapon in a clear plastic bag.

DePapes violent plan, as Vartain Horn laid it out, included holding Pelosi hostage, breaking her kneecaps, and teaching her a lesson. According to a criminal complaint filed days after the Oct. 28 attack,

DePape told investigators he viewed Nancy as the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party and that breaking her knees would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions.

[story continues]

Did he really or is his lawyer just pushing for insanity to soften the sentence?

holy shit that was only a year ago? feels like it was in 2020 or something

And shit like this is why those who spread these conspiracy theories and propaganda need to face consequences.

ArsGoetia posted...

holy shit that was only a year ago? feels like it was in 2020 or something

Thinking the same thing. That attack had to be more than a year ago, right?

I'm still sickened by the Republicans who tried to say it was a Lover's Quarrel gone wrong. Implying that the attacker was invited to the house and was in a sexual relationship with Mr Pelosi. One of the Trumps even spread this lie. Either Eric or Don Jr

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Did he really or is his lawyer just pushing for insanity to soften the sentence?

Probably both. His lawyer's gotta try everything they can. They have him on body cam and (IIRC) home surveillance video and cops and EMTs witnessed it.

So is he on trial or has he pleaded guilty? Article says both.

Of course he did.
Now put him away safely from society.

brestugo posted...

He did something wrong, something horrible, Linker said, according to The Washington Post, but he did not commit these two federal charges.

Sorry, deluding yourself into believing the person you intended to kidnap and their husband who you assaulted are part of some conspiracy nonsense does not mean you didn't intend to kidnap somebody and assault their husband.

At least give an actual "Yes he did it but only because his brain is literal mush" and not try to play "He didn't actually do the things he did."

DePape, a Canadian citizen in the United States illegally, immersed himself in online conspiracies, questioning the results of the 2020 presidential election and ranting ceaselessly and hatefully on an online blog about perceived enemies, including the media, aliens, Democrats, Jews, and Black people.

I don't even want to know how he thinks "aliens" have done him wrong. That shit gets weird quickly.

brestugo posted...

DePape, 43, is facing two federal felonies: attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official and assault on an immediate family member of the official in retaliation for performance of her job. If convicted, he faces life in prison, according to the Associated Press. The trial is expected to last roughly a week.

Like, I don't think this dude is getting life, but it's fucking unreal it's even in the conversation while all the maga ****s who literally tried overthrowing the government weren't coming anywhere CLOSE to that level of punishment.

"Yeah he did those things, but, he didn't do those things." Is an interesting strategy.

Cool

Life in prison no parole

brestugo posted...

I don't even want to know how he thinks "aliens" have done him wrong. That shit gets weird quickly.

He might mean illegals.

GranAures posted...

Sorry, deluding yourself into believing the person you intended to kidnap and their husband who you assaulted are part of some conspiracy nonsense does not mean you didn't intend to kidnap somebody and assault their husband.

At least give an actual "Yes he did it but only because his brain is literal mush" and not try to play "He didn't actually do the things he did."

Strider102 posted...

"Yeah he did those things, but, he didn't do those things." Is an interesting strategy.

It's a legal thing, not a literal thing. Let's say someone kills someone else. He is clearly guilty and it's not self-defense. Let's say the jury is populated by shitheads. They choose not to convict and practice jury nullification. He's found Not Guilty. He is a murderer. But legally, he was found not guilty of murder.

Heineken14 posted...

Like, I don't think this dude is getting life, but it's fucking unreal it's even in the conversation while all the maga ****s who literally tried overthrowing the government weren't coming anywhere CLOSE to that level of punishment.

Seriously.

This dude deserves a harsh punishment (And if there's you know what on his hard drive, no punishment would be too cruel), but it is astounding the amount of kid gloves armed insurgents are getting.

If they did this in certain other countries and failed, the world would bare witness to the example made.

Zikten posted...

I'm still sickened by the Republicans who tried to say it was a Lover's Quarrel gone wrong. Implying that the attacker was invited to the house and was in a sexual relationship with Mr Pelosi. One of the Trumps even spread this lie. Either Eric or Don Jr

This guy and anyone who reads any of these conspiracy theories from any political party is batshit crazy if they act on the belief of them.

Strider102 posted...

"Yeah he did those things, but, he didn't do those things." Is an interesting strategy.

I would have whipped out the Chewbacca defense.

Even if someone was an actual child molestor you still don't have the right to smash them with a hammer, unless you catch them in the act and need to actively protect/rescue their target/victim.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Wait, what? How are they doing this?

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Did he really or is his lawyer just pushing for insanity to soften the sentence?

Insanity rulings are typically even worse.

Someone needs to push this to get outlets like Fox News to no longer be allowed to spread misinformation.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

Someone needs to push this to get outlets like Fox News to no longer be allowed to spread misinformation.

Are they in a position to sue for defamation? I know the peasantry like us are at the mercy of the rich but surely someone like Pelosi could take a crack at it.

brestugo posted...

Linkler began his opening statements to the jury with a bizarre and troubling line: Tom Hanks, the actor, raped a 13-year-old girl.
[story continues]

This poor editing confused me for like 10 minutes

Dark_Arbron posted...

Are they in a position to sue for defamation? I know the peasantry like us are at the mercy of the rich but surely someone like Pelosi could take a crack at it.

I think they could if she can gather more examples of right wing nut jobs performing violent acts because they heard a well known right wing program say it. Unfortunately, Democrat politicians aren't known for taking assertive action.

TheJustice posted...

It's a legal thing, not a literal thing. Let's say someone kills someone else. He is clearly guilty and it's not self-defense. Let's say the jury is populated by shitheads. They choose not to convict and practice jury nullification. He's found Not Guilty. He is a murderer. But legally, he was found not guilty of murder.

Eh, reads a lot more literal than a gay/trans panic "defense" of "What else was he supposed to do?" But fair. Still silly at best.

reminds me of that girl who tried it in a big town. one of her last videos was her repeatedly screaming into a camera in her car, "where's pelosi? huh? hmm? hmm? hmm? where's pelosi? huh? hmm? hmm? hmm?"

How this guy wasn't charged with attempted murder 1 (for being there, coming after Nancy) and attempted murder 2 (for his assault... in front of the police, of her husband) is just beyond me.

It was so transparently an assassination attempt, and people just let him go with, "He said kneecaps after the fact," like that somehow tracks?

DnDer posted...

How this guy wasn't charged with attempted murder 1 (for being there, coming after Nancy) and attempted murder 2 (for his assault... in front of the police, of her husband) is just beyond me.

It was so transparently an assassination attempt, and people just let him go with, "He said kneecaps after the fact," like that somehow tracks?

You see, our justice system is made to be a bit less harsh towards certain people and a lot of judges and law enforcement are right leaning.

Umbreon posted...

Wait, what? How are they doing this?

Not interfering with investigations but a lot of those creep catchers often do things that make evidence not admissible by law. Even Chris Hansen did this with the Oni-san fiasco which is why he never did a video on him.