‘Justice’ delivered: Assailant of Paul Pelosi sentenced to life in prison
A judge in San Francisco has sentenced the man who assaulted Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to life imprisonment without the chance of parole on Tuesday.
Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman handed down the sentence to David Wayne DePape, following his conviction in June on charges including aggravated kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and false imprisonment of an elderly person, Paul Pelosi, who was 82 years old at the time of the incident.
The brutal assault occurred after DePape broke into Pelosi’s residence in October 2022, reportedly seeking Nancy Pelosi, using zip ties and armed with a hammer. However, she was not present at the time, and DePape shouted, “Where’s Nancy?” echoing the sentiments of the January 6, 2021 Capitol rioters.
The Pelosi family released a statement expressing that “justice has been served.” They expressed admiration for Paul Pelosi’s bravery during that terrifying night and throughout two criminal trials as he continues to heal from the brutal attack. “Since that violent invasion, we have been constantly reminded of the trauma and the fear of similar incidents occurring again,” they added.
This sentencing follows a previous ruling in which U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Corley sentenced DePape to 30 years in federal prison after he was convicted in November 2023 of attempting to kidnap a federal official and assaulting a relative of a federal official.
DePape’s defense team requested leniency, arguing that his life was negatively affected by a longstanding abusive relationship and that he had become “radicalized through his heavy consumption of extreme media,” as stated in court documents.
According to court records, DePape was aware he would be seen on Ring security cameras placed around the Pacific Heights home yet was shocked to find Paul Pelosi asleep after creating a disturbance by breaking a glass door window to gain entry.
Upon awakening, Pelosi, who was dressed only in pajamas, found DePape looming over him with a hammer in one hand and zip ties in the other. He questioned DePape about his reasons for wanting to see his wife.
DePape reportedly replied, “She’s No. 2 in line for the presidency, right? We’ve got to take them all out.”
Pelosi managed to call 911, but DePape then struck him on the head with the hammer, causing him to lose consciousness. When officers arrived, they quickly subdued DePape and took away his weapon.
In a letter addressed to the judge, Paul Pelosi detailed ongoing pain in his head and arm resulting from the attack. He mentioned suffering from lumps, a metal plate in his skull, persistent dizziness, and ongoing discomfort in his left hand.
“When I regained consciousness in a pool of my own blood, I faced severe injuries to my head, arm, and hand,” Pelosi stated, appealing for the harshest sentence for DePape. “I now need to nap during the day and cannot withstand bright lights or loud sounds for long periods.”