SAN FRANCISCO — The man convicted of trying to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a gavel will be sentenced in federal court on Friday.
Jurors found David DePape, 44, guilty in November of attempted kidnapping of a federal employee and assault on a federal employee’s immediate family. Prosecutors asked Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for a 40-year prison sentence.
DePape admitted during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosis’ San Francisco home on October 28, 2022, with the intention of holding the speaker hostage and “breaking her knees” if she lied to him. He also acknowledged beating Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police showed up, saying his plan to end what he saw as government corruption was falling apart.
The attack on Paul Pelosi, who was 82 years old at the time, was captured on police camera video 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 the House Speaker’s official duties as a member of Congress, 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 U.S. more than 20 years ago, testified that he believed the media repeatedly lied about former President Donald Trump. In speeches posted on a blog and online forum that were taken down after his arrest, DePape echoed the baseless right-wing conspiracy theory QAnon, which claims 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 interrogation of the Democratic president, who was not home at the time of the attack, to upload it online.
Prosecutors said he was carrying ropes and zippers, and detectives found body cameras, a computer and a tablet.
Paul Pelosi also testified at the trial, recalling how he was awakened by a large man who burst into the room and asked, “Where is Nancy?” He said when he responded that his wife was in Washington, DePape said he would tie him up while they waited for her.
“It was a tremendous shock to recognize that someone had broken into the house, and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the restraints, I recognized that I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible,” Pelosi told jurors.
Pelosi suffered two head injuries in the attack, including a fractured skull that was repaired with plates and screws that he will wear for the rest of his life. His right arm and hand were also injured.
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 May 22.
