Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, was brutally attacked in their San Francisco home on October 28, 2022. The attacker, David DePape, was found guilty of multiple charges in both state and federal trials. According to reports from various sources,
In the state trial that concluded on June 21, 2024, DePape was convicted of first-degree burglary; false imprisonment of an elder; threatening the family of a public official; aggravated kidnapping; and dissuading a witness by force or threat. The jury found him guilty despite his defense team's argument that he did not intend to kidnap Paul Pelosi for ransom.
DePape had previously expressed extreme views online, including conspiracy theories like Pizzagate and QAnon, which targeted Nancy Pelosi and other political figures. In the years leading up to the attack, he was deeply immersed in these ideologies and virulent rhetoric against his opponents.
The federal trial that took place in November 2023 resulted in a conviction for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. DePape admitted to breaking into the Pelosi residence but claimed he had other targets, including actor Tom Hanks, former Vice President Mike Pence, and his ex-wife Gypsy Taub.
During the attack on Paul Pelosi, DePape used a hammer to assault him while searching for Nancy Pelosi. Security camera footage showed DePape breaking into the house by smashing out a glass patio door and forcing his way through a wooden one. Paul Pelosi made an emergency call from his bedroom bathroom, reporting that someone was in his home and wanted him to get off the phone.
The incident raised concerns about politically motivated violence in America during a time of deep political division. DePape's conviction marks the end of a lengthy legal process that brought justice for Paul Pelosi and provided closure for Nancy Pelosi and their family.
