Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape sobs on the stand in attempted murder trial: ... trends now
Paul Pelosi's attacker David DePape wept on the stand on Tuesday as he told his attempted murder trial he learned about politics from video games - and that he believed 9/11 was an 'inside job'.
David DePape, a former nudist from Canada, entered the Pelosi's San Francisco mansion through a back door in the early hours of October 28, 2022, and bludgeoned former House Speaker Nancy's 82-year-old husband Paul.
The attack - which DePape's defense attorney has conceded he carried out - put Paul Pelosi in hospital with a fractured skull.
In court on Tuesday, DePape explained how he learned about politics from YouTube videos, podcasts and video games.
According to DePape, the Gamergate harassment campaign had spiked his curiosity in politics, saying that: 'Gamergate kind of introduced me to the culture war.'
DePape, who became obsessed with conspiracy theories, has pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering and attempted murder charges.
In court on Tuesday, DePape, seen here, told how he would learn about politics from YouTube videos, podcasts and video games
Paul Pelosi, husband of the former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is seen leaving the courthouse in San Francisco on Monday after testifying against David DePape
Gamergate was an online harassment campaign and a right-wing backlash against feminism, diversity and progressivism in video games.
DePape also spoke of how 'he was of the opinion that 9/11 was an inside job' and that he believed former President Donald Trump was 'another puppet like [George] Bush.'
At one point, DePape broke down in tears and had to be consoled by a defense lawyer who gave him a tissue.
Following this, he also said: 'I f***ing love Hunter Biden. He's like so blatantly corrupt. He doesn't even try to hide his nepotism.'
When questioned about the night he made his way into the Pelosi's home, DePape recalled: 'I was starting to worry nobody was home. He actually kind of woke up and startled me.'
I asked him if Nancy Pelosi was here, and he said she’s not here. I asked when she was back, he said [the] weekend.
'At this point I was still hoping to go forward with this portion of plan. He was sitting on [the] bed intimidated.
'I was like, why don’t I restrain you and sleep. He got into the elevator and was turning towards the phone.
'I inserted myself into the elevator with him, I turned to him and asked him, do you really want to try this?'
DePape also said that he was 'surprised and confused' about what he should do next after finding out Pelosi wasn't home.
David DePape didn't flinch while watching body camera footage of himself with Paul Pelosi at the Pelosi's San Francisco home
Paul Pelosi is seen testifying on Monday, as David DePape (left) listens
Aerial footage showed broken panes and shattered glass at the backdoor of Pelosi's home
DePape also told the court that he told Pelosi: 'I don’t want to hurt you but I don’t want you to get in the way either.'
According to DePape his 'grand plan' was also to expose everything about Hunter Biden.
Under cross examination by prosecutor Laura Vartain Horn, DePape was asked if he intended to cause violence in the home.
In response, he said: 'It wasn't my intention, but it was a possibility.'
The court also heard on Tuesday from neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Huang from the Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco.
Dr. Huang told the court how he was the on-call neurosurgeon the night Pelosi was attacked.
According to Dr. Huang, Pelosi had suffered two open skull fractures and was bleeding from his scalp.
Huang said that Pelosi was coherent throughout and operated on him at around four in the morning, discovering a two-inch laceration underneath his hair.
Dr. Huang said the laceration was through the full thickness of the scalp so it was right down to the bone.
The court was shown gruesome
