Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape sentencing moved, faces 50 years

Will Tran
·2 min read
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier versions of this story misstated the date David DePape will be sentenced. We regret the error. (April 24, 2024)

SAN FARNCISCO (KRON) — David DePape, the man convicted of attacking former Speak of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband, could spend the rest of his life in prison. He will find out next month when he is sentenced in federal court. He is facing a maximum of 50 years in prison for attacking Paul Pelosi in October of 2022.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 17. DePape is 43 years old.

DePape broke into the Pelosis’ San Francisco home seeking to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage, and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him, DePape testified at trial. She wasn’t home, however, her husband was. Paul Pelosi testified that he woke up in the middle of the night to see a hammer wielding stranger inside his bedroom.

Paul Pelosi alerted a 911 dispatcher that an intruder was inside the home.

Paul Pelosi delivers chilling testimony in DePape trial

San Francisco Police Department officers’ body worn camera videos show DePape and Mr. Pelosi at the front door when police arrived at the house. When the officers ordered DePape to drop the hammer, he bludgeoned Mr. Pelosi in the head.

A police officer’s body camera video shows David DePape and Paul Pelosi struggling for control of a hammer.
A police officer’s body camera video shows David DePape and Paul Pelosi struggling for control of a hammer.

Mr. Pelosi testified that he woke up in a pool of his own blood. Following the attack, he underwent surgery and remained in a hospital for more than a week. “It’s been traumatic for my family,” he testified.

At trial, DePape’s defense attorney, Angela Chuang, said her client believed in right-wing conspiracy theories he learned about while listening to conservative commentators on YouTube. She said those beliefs led him to Nancy Pelosi, whom he considered the face of the Democratic Party.

Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, leaves the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse after testifying in the federal trial of David DePape in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Prosecutors say DePape broke into the couple's home and bludgeoned Paul Pelosi with a hammer in October 2022. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, leaves the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse after testifying in the federal trial of David DePape in San Francisco on Nov. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

DePape was convicted in November 2023 in federal court of assault of an immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping.

DePape is facing additional criminal charges in San Francisco County court. State prosecutors plan to put him on trial for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other felonies.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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