The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attack her husband with a hammer will learn his fate in federal court on Friday.
David DePape, 44, was tried late last year for attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on a federal official's immediate family member. Jurors convicted him at both points on November 16, 2023. Prosecutors have asked Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for a 40-year prison sentence.
DePape's early morning burglary of the Pelosi home in October 2022 resulted in both federal and state charges. A second trial in state court will begin in the coming weeks.
During the day Tearful testimony in his federal trial, DePape admitted that he broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco home on October 28, 2022, intending to take the speaker hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. He also acknowledged hitting Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police showed up, and said his plan to end what he viewed as government corruption was unraveling.
The attack on Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, was captured on police body camera footage just days before the midterm elections and sent shockwaves through the political world.
Defense attorneys argued that DePape was motivated by his political beliefs, not because he wanted to interfere with the speaker's official duties as a member of Congress, invalidating the charges against him.
One of his attorneys, Angela Chuang, said during closing arguments that DePape was embroiled in conspiracy theories.
During the trial, DePape, a Canadian who moved to the U.S. more than two decades ago, testified that he believed news media repeatedly lied about former President Donald Trump. In rants on a blog and an online forum that were deleted after his arrest, DePape described a far-fetched plan to single-handedly 'take down' a series of high-profile figures. The plan echoed the baseless right-wing conspiracy theory QAnon, which claims a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles controls the U.S. government.
DePape also told jurors that he planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and record his questioning of the Democratic speaker, who was not home at the time of the attack, and upload it online.
Prosecutors said he had rope and zip ties on him, and detectives found body cameras, a computer and a tablet.
Paul Pelosi also testified at the trial, as he recalled being woken by a large man bursting into the bedroom and asking, “Where's Nancy?” He said that when he replied that his wife was in Washington, DePape said he would tie him up while they waited for her.
“It was a huge shock when I realized someone had broken into the house, and when I looked at him and looked at the hammer and the ties, I realized I was in serious danger, so I tried to remain as calm as possible. Pelosi told the jurors.
Pelosi suffered two head wounds in the attack, including a skull fracture that was repaired with plates and screws that will affect him for the rest of his life. His right arm and hand were also injured.
DePape also faces charges in state court of assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other crimes. Jury selection in that trial is expected to begin May 22.
