US News

Paul Pelosi attack: Cops weren’t monitoring cameras during break-in

The Capitol Police has live cameras outside Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home — but officers were reportedly not watching the feeds when her husband was brutally assaulted.

The agency monitors 1,800 cameras at the Capitol and away from its jurisdiction, including at the Pelosi residence in San Francisco, the Washington Post reported.

An officer who was cycling through the many live feeds Friday at one point noticed police lights flashing outside the home and rewound the video, according to the paper.

The officer in DC then observed the alleged attacker, David DePape, 42, breaking a glass panel and entering the residence, where police say he attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, three sources told the Washington Post.

The Capitol Police first installed cameras around the Pelosi residence more than eight years ago, the paper said.

The US Capitol Police had cameras outside the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul. AP
Officers neglected to monitor the security cameras live at the time of the attack. David G. McIntyre
The US The Capitol Police reportedly installed security cameras outside the Pelosi home in San Francisco more than eight years ago. REUTERS
DePape planned to also harm Nancy, when he broke into the home. David G. McIntyre
Paul DePape allegedly broke into the couple’s home with a hammer and attacked Paul Pelosi. REUTERS

The House speaker’s 24/7 security detail left San Francisco with her when she returned to DC last week – and the Capitol Police stopped continuously monitoring the feeds outside her house, according to the report.

The Capitol Police released a statement Monday which said: “The Command Center has access to roughly 1,800 cameras, which provide us the capability to collect evidence from any camera’s location at any time, while also allowing Command Center personnel to monitor select video feeds.

“Among these are cameras that are used to actively monitor the Speaker’s San Francisco residence around the clock when she is there. While the Speaker was with her security detail in Washington, D.C., the San Francisco cameras were not actively monitored as they are when the Speaker is at the residence.”

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger has also said his department is looking at providing additional security for members of Congress after the attack on Paul Pelosi.

“The USCP has engaged in a review of Friday’s incident,” he said in a statement, according to ABC News. “We believe today’s political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress.

“This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for congressional leadership. Hopefully you can understand that we cannot disclose the details about these improvements because our country cannot afford to make it easier for any potential bad actors,” Manger added.

Sources told Fox News that the Capitol Police pay less attention to surveillance cameras when one of its protectees is away.

When asked by reporters if the Pelosi residence has a security alarm system installed, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins dodged the question.

“There was no security present,” Jenkins said, according to Fox News.

Police say DePape broke into the Pelosi home and shouted “Where’s Nancy?” He then allegedly attacked her husband with a hammer, fracturing his skull.

David DePape was allegedly on a “suicide mission” when he attacked Paul Pelosi. AP
An artist’s rendering of DePape in San Francisco Superior Court Tuesday on charges stemming from the attack on Paul Pelosi. REUTERS

DePape was on a “suicide mission” and also targeting “several prominent state and federal politicians,” according to the San Francisco district attorney.

According to a motion obtained by The Post and filed by the DA to keep him in jail, he told them: “I’m sick of the insane f—ing level of lies coming out of Washington, DC. I came here to have a little chat with his wife.

On Tuesday, DePape pleaded not guilty to 10 different state charges — after already being slapped with federal charges that carry a prison sentence of 50 years.

The state charges include attempted homicide, first-degree burglary, violent felony enhancement, assault with a deadly weapon,  aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, elder abuse, inflict great bodily injury on elderly, dissuading a victim, threatening public official or family member, and damaging or preventing a communication for an emergency call.

On Monday, DePape was federally charged with attempted kidnapping and assault with intent to retaliate against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member.