David DePape, the man accused of violently attacking Paul Pelosi last week, was in the U.S. illegally, immigration officials said.
Federal records show that DePape entered the U.S. as a temporary visitor in 2008. Canadians who present themselves at the border typically do not need a visa and are admitted into the U.S. for six months.
"This was politically motivated, he was seeking out the Speaker," Brooke Jenkins, the San Francisco District Attorney said. Keep in mind, Jenkins says DePape was looking specifically to break Speaker Pelosi's kneecaps and take her hostage, saying he wasn't happy with how things were going in Washington D.C.
"Certainly interesting considering the alleged motives that we're hearing from reporting about this situation, that he would take such an American, like he's acting on behalf of Americans in a way that I would not expect from somebody who wasn't American," Benvenue said. DePape entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to all state charges during his initial appearance in court. He will be back in court Friday for a bail hearing related to his state charges.CNN contributed to this report.
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