Attacker of Nancy Pelosi’s husband with hammer receives 30-year prison sentence

A man who attacked former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in their San Francisco home has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. David DePape, 44, was found guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official.

Aaron Bennett, a spokesperson for Ms. Pelosi, issued a statement on behalf of the Pelosi family, praising Mr. Pelosi’s courage in saving his own life during the attack. Prosecutors had sought a 40-year sentence, while DePape’s defense argued for 14 years due to his lack of criminal history.

DePape admitted to breaking into the Pelosis’ home with the intention of taking the then-Speaker hostage. He struck Paul Pelosi, 82 at the time, with a hammer after police arrived at the scene. The attack was captured on police body camera video just days before the 2022 midterms.

In a letter to the judge, Mr. Pelosi described the harrowing experience of being held hostage in his own home by DePape. He suffered severe injuries from the hammer blows and continues to deal with the aftermath.

DePape’s defense argued that his actions were driven by political beliefs and conspiracy theories, including the baseless QAnon theory. In addition to federal charges, DePape faces state charges including assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.

The Pelosi family continues to deal with the trauma of the attack, with Mr. Pelosi experiencing ongoing health issues and Ms. Pelosi expressing concerns about the safety of her family in the face of such threats.