The man who was convicted in the 2022 attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole following his state trial. David DePape’s early morning break-in at the Pelosi home almost exactly two years ago on October 28, 2022, sent shockwaves through the United States and was attributed to the predictable effects of increasingly demonizing political rhetoric.
The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi was captured on police bodycam video after officers responded to his 911 call and found him struggling with DePape, who then bludgeoned Pelosi with a hammer. Opening statements in the state trial began in late May, a day after DePape’s federal sentencing was reopened to allow him to speak after a procedural error during his original sentencing. Last June, a jury convicted David DePape of state charges for his home-invasion attack on Paul Pelosi in the San Francisco home he shares with the former speaker.
DePape faced five counts in the state trial, including aggravated kidnapping resulting in bodily harm or death, false imprisonment of an elder or dependent adult, threatening family of public officials, first-degree residential burglary, and preventing or dissuading a witness by force or threat. Before issuing the sentence, Judge Harry Dorfman dismissed arguments from DePape’s attorneys that he be granted a new trial, stating that he intended “that Mr. DePape will never get out of prison.”
During his address to the court prior to sentencing, DePape read from a lengthy statement that focused deeply on various government conspiracy theories. DePape claimed that “911 was an inside job,” in addition to being psychic and stating he believes his ex-partner was replaced by a body double. Christine Pelosi read a statement from her father Paul Pelosi, detailing the physical and psychological impacts of the attack.
The life sentence on state charges is in addition to the 30-year sentence DePape received for his federal conviction. Both the prosecution and defense agreed that the life without parole sentence on the state charges would be served concurrently with DePape’s federal sentence, but the location of where DePape will serve the sentences has not yet been determined.
This sentencing marks the end of a long legal battle that began with the horrifying attack on Paul Pelosi. The severity of the crime and its impact on the Pelosi family and the nation as a whole have been reflected in the harsh punishment handed down to David DePape. The court’s decision ensures that DePape will spend the rest of his life behind bars, facing the consequences of his violent actions.
The trial and sentencing have brought closure to a traumatic chapter in the Pelosi family’s life, offering a sense of justice and accountability for the horrific crime committed against Paul Pelosi. The legal system has worked to hold DePape accountable for his actions, serving as a reminder of the consequences of violent and dangerous behavior. As the Pelosi family continues to heal and move forward, the sentencing of David DePape serves as a significant milestone in their journey towards justice and closure.
