USCRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
David DePape Found Guilty in Federal Trial Over Paul Pelosi Attack
Paul Pelosi's attacker was found guilty in a federal court on Nov. 16.
David DePape in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 13, 2013. (Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
By Jack Phillips
11/16/2023
Updated:
11/16/2023
A federal jury on Nov. 16 convicted the man who was accused of attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with a hammer last year at the Pelosis' San Francisco home.
Mr. DePape, 43, could face decades in prison.
During a several-day-long trial this week, Mr. DePape said that he was "sorry that he got hurt," referring to the 83-year-old Mr. Pelosi. "I reacted because my plan was basically ruined."
Mr. Pelosi suffered a skull fracture after he was hit in the head with a hammer during the Oct. 28, 2022, incident, which occurred at his San Francisco home just days before last year's midterm elections. Ms. Pelosi, who was the speaker of the House at the time, was in Washington.
According to police body camera footage that was taken during the night of the attack, officers opened the door to see Mr. DePape and Mr. Pelosi both holding what appeared to be a hammer.
As police told Mr. DePape to drop the tool, he responded that he wouldn't and appeared to strike Mr. Pelosi while off-camera.
Other footage that was released by police this year appears to show Mr. DePape breaking into the Pelosi home.
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He was charged with attempted kidnapping and assault on account of a federal official's performance of official duties.
He pleaded not guilty. The jury convicted him on both charges.
During testimony this week, Mr. Pelosi said that he was awakened that night when Mr. DePape entered his bedroom while holding zip ties and a hammer. The suspect repeatedly said, "Where's Nancy," referring to his wife, according to Mr. Pelosi.
"I recognized I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible," he testified.
