Paul Pelosi's attacker also had Hunter Biden, Tom Hanks on hit-list, court told

Updated : Dec 17, 2022 10:41
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AFP

The man accused of attacking US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer had a list of future targets that included Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks, a US court heard Wednesday.

David DePape told police he had intended to kidnap the Democratic Party's top politician in Congress and get her to admit to "lies" or he would smash her kneecaps.

But when he broke into her San Francisco home in October, he instead found her 82-year-old husband Paul Pelosi, and after what he told officers was a "pretty amicable" exchange, bludgeoned him with a hammer.

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San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy ruled Wednesday that there was enough evidence for 42-year-old DePape, a Canadian former public nudity activist, to stand trial over the assault, which left Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull.

The defendant has denied the charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary, false imprisonment and threatening the life of or causing serious bodily harm to a public official.

DePape told investigators he was looking at other high-profile targets as well as Nancy Pelosi, the court heard.

These included Hanks, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden and the frequent target of rightwing conspiracy theorists.

Nancy PelosiTom Hanks

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