In an update on the case of David DePape, a federal judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison for assaulting Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in a violent attack in October 2022. DePape was also sentenced to 20 years for attempted kidnapping, with both sentences running concurrently. The judge, Jacqueline Scott Corley, emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the unprecedented nature of breaking into the home of a public official and attacking their spouse. In November, DePape was found guilty by a jury in a San Francisco federal court of assault on a federal official’s family member and attempted kidnapping of a federal official.
During the trial, DePape’s attorneys acknowledged that he had attacked Paul Pelosi, but argued that his motives did not align with the charges against him. DePape testified in his own defense, sharing his beliefs in conspiracy theories and stating that Pelosi was not his intended target. DePape described a conversation with Pelosi before the attack, mentioning other targets and threatening to go through him if stopped. When he realized his plan was disrupted, DePape reacted by hitting Pelosi in the head. Pelosi, in his testimony, recounted waking up to find DePape in his home with a hammer, asking for his wife and subsequently engaging in a struggle that resulted in him being violently struck in the head.
Following the attack, Pelosi underwent surgery for a skull fracture and other injuries, experiencing ongoing difficulties with lightheadedness and headaches. Speaker Emerita Pelosi mentioned in a statement to the court that the incident had a profound impact on three generations of their family and disrupted their sense of peace at home. DePape also faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary, and assault, with a trial expected to take place in the summer. The update on the case highlights the long-lasting repercussions of violent attacks on public officials and their families, as well as the legal consequences for those responsible for such actions.
