Surveillance video of the home intruder who attacked the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (R-CA) last year, leaving Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull, could be made public as early as Thursday.
Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Murphy ruled Wednesday on a request by a group of news organizations to have the footage released. It includes video captured by Capitol Police surveillance cameras and body cameras worn by the two police officers who responded to the attack on the 82-year-old at the Pelosis’ house in San Francisco in the early hours of October 28.
U.S. Capitol Police in November admitted that their security cameras for the California residence of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were not actively being monitored when she wasn’t staying there.
Rep. Pelosi was in Washington when police say 42-year-old David DePape broke into the residence and bludgeoned Paul Pelosi with a hammer.
A private security guard noticed a man dressed in all black and walking with a backpack near the Pelosi house around 2am. Authorities say that man was DePape, who had zip ties, a rope and hammer in the backpack, which he’d planned to use to kidnap and torture the Congresswoman.
DePape has pleaded not guilty to charges that include attempted murder.
In arguing to keep the footage secret, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said publicizing the videos would only fuel more distortions of the facts and harm DePape’s right to a fair trial.
But Thomas R. Burke, the attorney representing the news organizations, noted that Judge Murphy had pointed out that the footage had already been aired at a preliminary court hearing last month.
Judge Murphy ordered that the Pelosi footage be turned over to the court clerk’s office, potentially making it available as soon as Thursday.
