The hammer-wielding man who brutally attacked Paul Pelosi, husband of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, at his home in San Francisco was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley came close to siding with the U.S. Department of Probation, which recommended a 25-year punishment against David DePape.
Government prosecutors sought the maximum sentence of 40 years.
In a statement released Friday, the Pelosi family said they are proud of Paul Pelosi, or “Pop,” and grateful to those who have wished him well since the attack.
“The Pelosi family could not be more proud of their father and his tremendous courage in saving his own life on the night of the attack and in testifying in this case,” read the statement, shared by spokesman Aaron Bennet. “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.”
Federal jurors on November 16 found DePape guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal employee and assault on an immediate family member of a federal employee stemming from the October 28, 2022 assault.
DePape testified in his own defense and admitted to breaking into the couple’s Pacific Heights home with plans to use Nancy and Paul Pelosi in a plot to lure Bay Area academic and University of Michigan professor Gayle Rubin, a leading academic on theory. feminist and queer studies.
While testifying, DePape referenced several right-wing conspiracy theories and said he spent six hours a day looking at political commentary on YouTube leading up to the attack.
DePape had previously told investigators that he broke into the house with plans to break Speaker Pelosi’s knees if she didn’t answer his questions truthfully.
While on the witness stand, DePape attempted to walk back this alleged admission. When asked if he planned to kidnap the lawmaker, DePape told jurors, “I believe that is a mischaracterization.”
During the raid, when DePape wasn’t looking, Paul Pelosi managed to call 911 and the police.
When officers arrived, DePape and Pelosi had their hands on the suspect’s hammer, police body camera footage showed.
An officer ordered him to “drop the gavel” before DePape pulled it away from Pelosi and attacked him with it. He was quickly approached and arrested by police officers.
DePape still faces state charges which include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary, false imprisonment and threatening death or serious bodily harm to a public official.
Jury selection in the state case being pressed by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is scheduled for Wednesday.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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