Man convicted of attacking ex-President Nancy Pelosi's husband with hammer and sentenced to 30 years in prison

SAN FRANCISCO — The man convicted of trying to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley handed down the sentence to David DePape, 44, whom jurors convicted last November of attempting to kidnap a federal official and assaulting a member of a public official's immediate family federal. Prosecutors had requested a 40-year prison sentence.

DePape was sentenced to 20 years on one count and 30 years on another count. The sentences will run concurrently. He was also given credit for 18 months of detention.

DePape remained silent as Judge Corley pronounced the sentence and sometimes looked down. His defense lawyers had asked the judge to sentence him to 14 years in prison, pointing out that he was going through a difficult time in his life and had no criminal history.

Corley said she took into account when sentencing DePape the fact that he broke into the home of a public official, an act without precedent in the nation's history.

“He actually went to the house, it’s completely, totally unprecedented,” she said.

Before the sentencing, Christine Pelosi read victim impact statements on behalf of her father and mother, explaining how the violent attack changed their lives.

“The Pelosi family could not be more proud of their father and his immense courage in saving his life the night of the attack and in testifying in this case,” Aaron Bennett, spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement. “Speaker Pelosi and her family are immensely grateful to everyone who has sent love and prayers over the past eighteen months as Mr. Pelosi continues his recovery.”

DePape admitted during his trial testimony that he broke into Pelosis San Francisco home on October 28, 2022, intending to hold the speaker hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police arrived, saying his plan to end what he saw as government corruption was falling apart.

The attack on Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, was captured on police body camera just days before the midterm elections and sent shockwaves through the political world.

Defense attorneys argued that DePape was motivated by his political beliefs, not because he wanted to interfere with Nancy Pelosi's official duties as a member of Congress, thereby rendering the charges against him invalid.

One of his lawyers, Angela Chuang, said during closing arguments that DePape was caught up in conspiracy theories.

At trial, DePape, a Canadian who moved to the United States more than 20 years ago, testified that he believed the media repeatedly lied about former President Donald Trump. In rants posted to a blog and online forum that were deleted after his arrest, DePape echoed the baseless right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory that a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles runs the U.S. government.

DePape also told jurors he planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and record his questioning of the Democratic president, who was not at the home at the time of the attack, to post online.

Prosecutors said he had ropes and restraints with him, and detectives found body cameras, a computer and a tablet.

Paul Pelosi also testified at the trial, recalling how he was awakened by a tall man bursting into the chamber and asking, “Where's Nancy?” He said that when he responded that his wife was in Washington, DePape said he would tie her up while they waited.

“It was a huge shock to recognize that someone had broken into the house, and looking at him, looking at the hammer and the zip ties, I realized I was in great danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible,” Pelosi told jurors.

DePape is also charged in state court with assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other crimes. Jury selection in that trial is expected to begin Wednesday.

Paul Pelosi suffered two head injuries in the attack, including a fractured skull that was repaired with plates and screws that he will keep for the rest of his life. His right arm and hand were also injured.