In a recent development, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged the court to impose a "very long" sentence on the man who brutally assaulted her husband, Paul Pelosi, in their residence over a year ago.
Paul Pelosi continues to grapple with a range of health issues, including dizziness, headaches, balance problems, nerve pain, and walking difficulties, following the violent attack by David DePape, who used a hammer as his weapon of choice.
In a letter addressed to a federal judge on Friday, Paul Pelosi disclosed his ongoing health struggles ahead of DePape's sentencing. DePape was found guilty of the assault in November of last year, which took place in October 2022. The judge handed down a 30-year sentence to DePape for his heinous act.
Paul Pelosi's letter detailed his daily struggles, stating, "I walk slowly and have difficulty with my balance. Nearly every day I get headaches that become migraines unless quickly addressed." He also revealed his inability to tolerate bright lights or loud noises for extended periods and his need to sleep during the day.
The attack's aftermath has left deep psychological scars on Paul Pelosi, who admitted, "For months, sleeping alone in my home was very difficult because I kept remembering the defendant breaking into my house." He further elaborated on the physical damage inflicted by DePape, stating, "The defendant severely damaged the nerves in my left hand. My forehand was 'de-gloved' exposing raw nerves and blood vessels. Surgeries and treatments mostly healed the skin, but underneath I still feel pinched nerves in my left hand. This makes basic tasks like using buttons, cutlery and simple tools more difficult."
Nancy Pelosi, in her letter to the court, echoed her husband's sentiments, calling for a "very long" sentence for DePape. She described the attack as an event that "[f]illed me with great fear and deep pain." The veteran California congresswoman wrote, "A violent man broke into our home, threatened to kidnap me and in his own words made my husband Paul 'take the punishment' in my absence with a near-fatal attack with a hammer."
Nancy Pelosi also revealed that she and her husband have refrained from discussing the attack, as revisiting the traumatic event would only exacerbate Paul's trauma.
Terri McCullough, Nancy Pelosi's chief of staff, in a separate letter to the court, referenced the anxiety that permeated the speaker's office following the U.S. Capitol assault on Jan. 6, 2021. She wrote, "We could not imagine anything worse could happen in our world," McCullough wrote. "Yet I did, because of this defendant's actions. 'Where's Nancy?' he asked. After the brutal attack of Mr. Pelosi in October 2022, we knew the Speaker and her family were not safe in their own homes."
The Justice Department had sought a 40-year prison term for DePape, who was tried late last year for attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. The 44-year-old was convicted on both counts.
DePape's early morning intrusion into the Pelosi residence led to federal and state charges. A second trial in state court is slated to commence in the coming weeks.
During his federal trial, a tearful DePape confessed to breaking into the Pelosi's San Francisco home with the intention of holding the speaker hostage and "break her kneecaps" if she lied to him. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer when the police arrived, stating that his plan to end what he perceived as government corruption was falling apart.
The assault on Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, was captured on police body camera video days before the midterm elections, sending shockwaves through the political landscape.
DePape's defense attorneys argued that his actions were driven by his political beliefs, not by an intention to interfere with the speaker's official duties as a member of Congress, which would render the charges against him invalid.
Scott MacFarlane, a congressional correspondent with two decades of experience covering Washington, reported on the case. His reporting has led to the passage of five new laws and earned him 20 Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards.
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