Capitol Police had cameras outside Pelosi home that weren't monitored at break-in: Sources

USCP saw police lights, rewound the video and saw the break-in, sources said.

November 2, 2022, 4:21 PM

The U.S. Capitol Police had cameras outside the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but they were not monitored, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Capitol Police saw the flash of police lights on the camera, rewound the video and saw the break-in, according to the sources.

It is unclear whether or not the cameras should have been monitored at the time.

The Washington Post was the first to report this detail.

PHOTO: A view of the residence of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in San Francisco, California, on October 28, 2022, after her husband was attacked in their home by an intruder.
A view of the residence of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in San Francisco, California, on October 28, 2022, after her husband was attacked in their home by an intruder.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In addition to cameras installed by the Capitol Police, the couple's house has a private security system, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. When the alarm is triggered, the system is supposed to notify the San Francisco Police Department and then Capitol Police. Capitol Police never received a call from the private security system, the sources said. It's not clear if the alarm ever went off.

Capitol Police have installed cameras at the homes of congressional leaders in recent years and have the ability to monitor and record the cameras in their command center, sources told ABC News. At the time of the attack, Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., with her protective detail.

In a statement Wednesday, Capitol Police said it has access to about 1,800 cameras, including cameras "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. The Command Center personnel noticed the police activity on the screen and used the feeds to monitor the response and assist investigators," the department said.

"The department has begun an internal security review and will be gathering input and questions from our congressional stakeholders. We have been immensely grateful for the critical support the Congress already provided to secure the U.S. Capitol Complex after Jan. 6, 2021," the statement continued. "The funding was vital for us to implement dozens of immediate improvements. Now we will fast-track the work we have already been doing to enhance the protection of members outside of Washington, D.C., while also providing new protective options that will address concerns following Friday’s targeted attack."

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger on Tuesday said his department is looking at providing added security for members of Congress after last week's assault on Paul Pelosi.

"The USCP has engaged in a review of Friday's incident," Manger said in a statement. "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."

Paul Pelosi was attacked early Friday by a suspect, 42-year-old David DePape, who allegedly used a hammer to break into the Pelosi residence in the upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco just before 2 a.m. local time, according to the federal complaint.

The intruder then went upstairs, where the 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was asleep, and demanded to talk to "Nancy." Despite being told that the speaker was not home and would not be for several days, DePape said he would wait and started taking out zip ties from his backpack to tie up Paul Pelosi, according to the complaint.

FILE PHOTO: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive for the formal Artist's Dinner honoring the recipients of the 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2021.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive for the formal Artist's Dinner honoring the recipients of the 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2021.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters, File

According to the complaint, Paul Pelosi told DePape that he needed to use the bathroom, allowing him to get his cellphone and call 911. Two police officers arrived minutes later and entered the home, encountering DePape and Paul Pelosi struggling over a hammer. The officers told the men to drop the hammer, at which time DePape allegedly gained control of the hammer and swung it, striking Paul Pelosi in the head. The officers immediately restrained and disarmed DePape, while Paul Pelosi appeared to be unconscious on the floor.

The officers later secured a second hammer, a roll of tape, white rope, zip ties as well as a pair of rubber and cloth gloves from the crime scene, according to the complaint.

Paul Pelosi was struck at least twice with the hammer, sources told ABC News. He was hospitalized following the attack and underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands, according to a statement from Nancy Pelosi's spokesperson, Drew Hammill. Nancy Pelosi said Monday that her husband "is making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process."

DePape is facing a slew of state charges, including attempted murder, residential burglary and assault with a deadly weapon, as well as federal charges of assault and attempted kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday during his arraignment on state charges and denied all allegations. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday. He has yet to be arraigned on the federal charges.

ABC News' Morgan Winsor, Julia Jacobo and Mola Lenghi contributed to this report.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that DePape was set to be arraigned on federal charges Wednesday.