Attacker of Nancy Pelosi’s husband jailed for 30 years
David DePape, a rightwing conspiracy theorist who broke into Nancy Pelosi’s California home and attacked her husband with a hammer, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
A federal jury convicted DePape, 44, of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official in November 2023, just over a year after the attack in the former House speaker’s home.
DePape broke in through the back door in the early hours of 28 October 2022 with plans to kidnap Nancy Pelosi, interrogate her and post footage online. Paul Pelosi, then 82, awoke to DePape in his bedroom holding a hammer and cable ties, asking: “Where’s Nancy?”
Paul Pelosi was able to call 911, and police officers arrived just before DePape struck him in the head with a hammer multiple times, knocking him unconscious.
Pelosi required surgery for a skull fracture and sustained injuries to his arm and hands in the attack, which took place days before the 2022 midterm elections and fuelled fears of political violence in the US.
DePape had a history of promoting conspiracy theories online and had shared misinformation about Covid and the January 6 insurrection, as well as false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from Donald Trump. He had been homeless and experienced drug abuse and mental illness in the years leading up to the attack, his ex-girlfriend told local media.
During the trial, DePape testified about his fringe political beliefs and how he came to support false conspiracy theories that a cabal of paedophiles controlled the US government.
He admitted to the attack, but said he had wanted to talk to Nancy Pelosi and that Paul Pelosi was “never my target and I’m sorry that he got hurt”. His attorney said DePape had targeted Nancy Pelosi because he believed “with every ounce of his body” that he was taking action to stop corruption and the abuse of children.
Paul Pelosi last year testified that he had still not fully recovered from the attack, which required permanent plates and screws in his head.