Paul Pelosi's attacker said he wanted to break Nancy Pelosi's kneecaps to make her an example to other Democrats in Congress, feds allege

• Paul Pelosi's attacker said he wanted to break Nancy Pelosi's kneecaps when he broke into her home.
• The man was charged with assault and attempted kidnapping by the Department of Justice Monday.

The man charged with attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband in their home told investigators he wanted to break Nancy Pelosi's kneecaps as an example to other Democratic members of Congress, federal prosecutors allege.

That's according to the Justice Department, which on Monday charged 42-year-old David Wayne DePape with two felonies connected to the attack.

DePape was charged with one count of assault of an immediate family member of a US official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties, and one count of attempted kidnapping of a US official on account of the performance of official duties.

An FBI affidavit accompanying the complaint said that during an interview with San Francisco Police Department officials after his arrest, DePape said he wanted to break the House speaker's knees when he entered her residence.

DePape — who posted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and antisemitic screeds to his social media accounts — told police that he had planned to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage had she been home. Pelosi was in Washington, DC, at the time and accompanied by her protective detail.

According to the FBI affidavit, DePape said that if she told the "truth," he would let her go, and that if she "lied," he would break "her kneecaps." He went on to say that he viewed her as the "leader of the pack" among Democrats and that he wanted to break her kneecaps so she would have to be wheeled into Congress, which "would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions," the affidavit said.

Paul Pelosi told police he had been asleep when DePape entered the Pelosi residence early Friday morning. He called 911 shortly after, and two officers who responded to the call said that when they arrived on scene, they saw Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer before DePape wrestled it away and struck Pelosi over the head with it, at which point DePape was arrested.

Paul Pelosi was hospitalized following the attack, and police said he suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body and had to undergo surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.