Man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband ‘was caught up in conspiracies’

David DePape pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of a federal official (Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File)

The man accused of bludgeoning former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer was caught up in conspiracies when he broke into her home last year, his defence lawyer has said.

The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi in the early hours of October 28 2022 sent shockwaves through the political world just days before last year’s mid-term elections.