Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life in prison in California

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

David DePape was also convicted on federal charges in May, leading to a 30-year prison sentence that will now be served concurrently.

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

In a statement after the sentencing, the Pelosi family said “justice has been served.”

“Since the violent burglary and the cries of ‘where’s Nancy?’ Two years ago, not a day goes by that we don’t think about this devastating attack, the trauma of it – or the possibility of future attacks,” the family said.

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

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

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

Mr Lipson had unsuccessfully lobbied the judge to impose a more lenient sentence, arguing that DePape suffered from mental health problems and isolation, which he said made him vulnerable to propaganda.

Judge Harry Dorfman declined, saying he had no sympathy for DePape.

“I feel compassion for the victim in this case, who is fortunate to be alive,” Judge Dorfman said as he handed down his sentence. “It is my intention that Mr. DePape never gets out of prison, he can never be released on parole.”

Video of the incident played during the earlier trial showed DePape, a Canadian citizen who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years, breaking into Pelosi’s California home on Oct. 28, 2022, armed with a hammer.

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

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

Moments later — after being asked to drop the weapon — DePape abruptly punched Mr. Pelosi before being wrestled to the ground by officers. The incident was captured on body cameras worn by the officers.

In addition to a skull fracture, Mr. Pelosi suffered injuries to his arm and hand. During the attack he was hit three times.

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

Mrs. Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, read a letter from her father in which he said the attack left him with nerve damage and he was afraid to sleep alone at home.

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

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