David DePape gets 30 years in federal prison for hammer attack on Paul Pelosi

Simon Druker & Doug Cunningham
·3 min read
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David DePape, convicted of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and attacking her husband with a hammer Oct. 28, 2022, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Friday in San Francisco. File Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Police Department
David DePape, convicted of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and attacking her husband with a hammer Oct. 28, 2022, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Friday in San Francisco. File Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Police Department
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May 17 (UPI) -- David DePape was sentenced Friday to 30 years in federal prison for the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi. DePape broke into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home looking for her and attacked her husband.

DePape assaulted Paul Pelosi in the Pelosi San Francisco home Oct. 28, 2022.

Federal prosecutors asked for a 40-year sentence as they called it "an act of domestic terrorism."

In a sentencing memo prosecutors said, "The defendant planned a violent hostage-taking of the Speaker Emerita, and then nearly killed her husband. The defendant planned and unleashed violence and has stayed true to his belief that the actions were necessary."

DePape's defense lawyers admitted he broke into the Pelosis' Pacific Heights home because he became convinced Nancy Pelosi was part of an evil cabal of liberals who were ruining the country.

The Justice Department asked District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley to sentence David DePape to 40 years in prison for his hammer attack on Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022. Prosecutors called the attack an act of "domestic terrorism." File Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Police Department
The Justice Department asked District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley to sentence David DePape to 40 years in prison for his hammer attack on Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022. Prosecutors called the attack an act of "domestic terrorism." File Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Police Department

Prosecutors sought to prove that DePape's actions were motivated specifically by Nancy Pelosi's official congressional duties.

DePape's sentencing hearing was originally slated to take place May 22 but was moved up because of scheduling issues.

David DePape, 44, was convicted last November on U.S. charges of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assaulting the family member of a federal official for the attack on Paul Pelosi (L). File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
David DePape, 44, was convicted last November on U.S. charges of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assaulting the family member of a federal official for the attack on Paul Pelosi (L). File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI

DePape, 44, was convicted last November on U.S. charges of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assaulting the family member of a federal official.

Federal prosecutors said DePape, who was born in British Columbia, Canada, has not shown any remorse for the attack. Police said he broke into the San Francisco home shared by the couple looking to kidnap Nancy Pelosi. When he realized she wasn't home, he then attacked her then 82-year-old husband who had been sleeping.

David DePape was able to strike Paul Pelosi three times with the hammer before he was tackled by police, while the attack was captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras. File Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Police Department
David DePape was able to strike Paul Pelosi three times with the hammer before he was tackled by police, while the attack was captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras. File Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Police Department

"I reacted because my plan was basically ruined," DePape said on the stand during his trial in the fall.

DePape was able to strike Paul Pelosi three times with the hammer before he was tackled by police. The attack was captured on the officers' body-worn cameras.

"Violence has no place in politics. In America, one is free to believe whatever they want, and to engage in passionate political debate. Regardless of what your beliefs are, what you cannot do is physically attack a member of Congress, or their immediate family, for their performance of their job. We look forward to the sentence phase," U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey told reporters earlier during the legal proceedings.

DePape will face a trial on state charges in the coming weeks related to the matter.