CNN
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David DePape, who was charged with attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, a week ago, waived his appearance in San Francisco Superior Court on Friday.
A status hearing was set for November 28th and a preliminary hearing was set for December 14th.
DePape is charged with six counts related to the attack, including attempted murder, robbery, assault, wrongful imprisonment, and threatening a government employee’s family. He has pleaded not guilty to all state charges.
Bail was not raised at Friday’s hearing. DePape is currently being held without bail.
Speaking to CNN’s Erin Burnett, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said it was unclear if DePap would seek an insanity defense.
“He explained exactly what he did and why, so it was very clear what his intentions were, why he had those intentions, and exactly what he was going to do.” said Jenkins on Friday’s “Erin Burnett Outfront,” referring to DePape’s voluntary statement to police.
Jenkins said it’s not uncommon for defense attorneys to consider all options to defend their clients, but “I don’t think I can definitively say he didn’t know what he was doing at this point. ” he added.
Violent attacks on Pelosi have been condemned on both sides of the aisle, raising new concerns for the safety of lawmakers and their families in the current political climate due to increasingly hostile political rhetoric.
Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that her husband has been discharged from the hospital.
“Paul continues to be under medical care as he continues to progress toward a long recovery and recovery. He is currently at home surrounded by his family who are requesting privacy,” said the Speaker of the House. statement said.
Nancy Pelosi’s spokesman, Drew Hamill, said after the attack, Paul Pelosi underwent surgery “to repair a fractured skull and severe injuries to his right arm and hand.”
Pelosi was attacked with a hammer at the couple’s home in San Francisco, and disturbing new details about the incident have surfaced.
DePappe stood by his bedside to wake Paul Pelosi and prevent him from escaping while demanding to know the whereabouts of the Speaker of the House, according to court documents released Tuesday.
Depp told police officers and medical personnel on the scene that he was fed up with the “level lies” coming from Washington, D.C., adding, “Come over here and have a little chat. [Pelosi’s] According to court filings on Tuesday.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Judge Loretta M. Giorgi previously worked with Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office in the 1990s. Giorgi said he “hadn’t seen, heard or spoken to Ms Pelosi” since.
This story has been updated with additional details.
