Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life in prison without parole

The man who broke into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home in California and attacked her husband with a hammer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

David DePape was also convicted of federal charges in May and sentenced to 30 years in prison, which will be served concurrently.

In the state case, a San Francisco jury found DePape guilty of kidnapping, first-degree burglary and false imprisonment of an elder. The attack left Paul Pelosi, now 84, hospitalized for six days with a fractured skull and other injuries.

The Pelosi family said in a statement after the sentence that “legal justice has been served.”

“There was a violent break in and ‘Where’s Nancy?’ “Not a day goes by where we don’t think about this devastating attack, the trauma it caused, or the possibility of future attacks,” the family said.

They added that they hope the sentence sends the message that “political violence against elected officials or their family members will not be tolerated.”

DePape’s attorney said he plans to appeal Tuesday’s ruling.

“This was a truly tragic end to a tragic story,” attorney Adam Lipson told reporters after the hearing.

Mr. Lipson unsuccessfully lobbied the judge to impose a lighter sentence, arguing that DePape suffered from mental health issues and isolation, making him vulnerable to propaganda.

Judge Harry Dorfman denied the request, saying he had no sympathy for DePape.

“I sympathize with the victim in this case who is lucky to be alive,” Judge Dorfman said in sentencing. “It is my intention that Mr. DePape will never be released from prison, that he will never be paroled.”

In the video of the incident played during the previous hearing, DePape, a Canadian citizen who has lived in the USA for twenty years, was seen entering Pelosi’s house in California with a hammer on October 28, 2022.

DePape asked for Mrs. Pelosi, who was not home when he encountered the lawmaker’s husband at the couple’s home.

When police officers arrived at the scene after responding to a 911 call, they found Mr. Pelosi and DePape holding the hammer.

Moments later, after being asked to drop the gun, DePape suddenly struck Mr. Pelosi before being tackled to the ground by officers. The incident was captured on the body cameras worn by the police.

In addition to his fractured skull, Mr. Pelosi suffered injuries to his arm and hand. He was shot three times during the attack.

The attacker admitted during his federal trial that he planned to take Ms. Pelosi hostage, interrogate her on camera and “break her kneecaps” if she did not confess to what he claimed were lies.

Ms. Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, read a letter her father wrote in which he said the attack had caused nerve damage and that he was afraid to sleep at home alone.

DePape spoke at length about conspiracy theories surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 attack when given the chance to address the court at the state hearing, according to the Associated Press, whose reporters were in the courtroom.

DePape also said he believed his government-appointed lawyers were conspiring against him and that he was forced to interrupt the judge several times, the AP reported.

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