The man who was convicted of attacking the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was sentenced on May 17 to 30 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley handed down the sentence for David DePape, 44, for attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official.
Prosecutors had requested 40 years in prison, while defense attorneys asked for a 14-year sentence.
Mr. DePape was given 20 years for one count and 30 years for another count. The sentences will run concurrently. He was also given credit for the 18 months that he’s been in custody.
He admitted in his testimony to bludgeoning Ms. Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer after breaking into the couple’s San Francisco home in the early hours of Oct. 28, 2022.
Mr. DePape said he intended to hold the speaker hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. If that happened and she was wheeled into Congress in a wheelchair, other members would see that there were consequences to their actions, he told police officers after being arrested. He said he viewed Ms. Pelosi as the “leader of the pack of [expletive] liars.”
Mr. Pelosi testified during the trial that he was awakened in his bedroom by Mr. DePape saying “Where’s Nancy?”
“It was a tremendous sense of shock to recognize that somebody had broken into the house, and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the ties, I recognized that I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible,” Mr. Pelosi told jurors.
Mr. Pelosi was able to call the police. After they arrived, Mr. DePape struck Mr. Pelosi in the head. Mr. Pelosi suffered serious injuries, including a skull fracture. Mr. Pelosi told the judge in a letter before the sentencing that he still has scars, has near daily headaches, and experiences dizziness as a result of the blows he suffered.
“I need to sleep during the day and cannot tolerate bright lights or loud noises for extended periods of time,” he wrote, asking for the maximum sentence, 50 years, to be imposed.
Defense attorneys argued that Mr. DePape was motivated by his political beliefs and did not want to interfere with Ms. Pelosi’s official duties as a member of Congress, making the charges against him invalid. One of his attorneys, Angela Chuang, said during closing arguments that Mr. DePape was caught up in conspiracy theories.
On Mr. DePape’s blog, he offered anti-Semitic positions and opposition to Jesus, among a wide range of views. At trial, the Canadian native, who moved to the United States more than 20 years ago, testified that he believed that news outlets repeatedly lied about former President Donald Trump. Mr. DePape also told jurors he had planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and record his interrogation of Ms. Pelosi, who was not at the home at the time of the attack, to upload it online.
According to court documents, Mr. DePape was found with rope, zip ties, cameras, and a computer.
Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum that the crimes involved domestic terrorism and that he should be sentenced to 40 years in prison.
“At a time when extremism has led to attacks on public and elected officials, this case presents a moment to speak to others harboring ideologically motivated violent dreams and plans,” they wrote. “This case presents strong deterrent value to say that violent ideological attacks will be punished to the full extent of the law.”
Defense attorneys said a 14-year sentence would be sufficient to promote respect for the law and protect the public.
They said Mr. DePape has mental health issues that were recently diagnosed and is “particularly susceptible to manipulation and to unusual beliefs.” They said he was driven to take the actions he did after being isolated from the children he helped raise by his ex-girlfriend and learning she falsely accused him of sexually abusing the children.
Mr. DePape said during the trial he was sorry Mr. Pelosi was hurt, which resulted in his plan becoming “basically ruined.”
He has said he planned to target others after Ms. Pelosi, including President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, billionaire George Soros, actor Tom Hanks, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Mr. DePape is also charged in state court with assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary, and other felonies. Jury selection in that trial is expected to start on May 22.
Aaron Bennett, a spokesman for Ms. Pelosi, said in a statement on behalf of the Pelosi family: “The Pelosi family couldn’t be prouder of their Pop and his tremendous courage in saving his own life on the night of the attack and in testifying in this case. Speaker Pelosi and her family are immensely grateful to all who have sent love and prayers over the last eighteen months, as Mr. Pelosi continues his recovery.
“Given the ongoing state court proceedings, Speaker Pelosi and the Pelosi family will not be offering further comment on this matter at this time.”
