In a recent development, as reported by CNBC, David DePape, the man who notoriously assaulted Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a hammer during a home invasion in 2022, has been convicted by a jury in a state case against him.
DePape had previously been found guilty on federal charges related to the October 28, 2022, break-in and assault on Paul Pelosi. For these crimes, he received a 30-year prison sentence. The recent state case saw DePape convicted of first-degree burglary, false imprisonment, threatening a family member of a public official, and aggravated kidnapping.
The San Francisco District Attorney's Office has yet to comment on the verdict. At the time of the break-in, Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., and was unharmed. Paul Pelosi, however, was not so fortunate. He testified during the federal trial that he was awakened by "a very large man" with a hammer and zip ties who demanded to know "Where's Nancy?"
Despite the terrifying situation, Paul Pelosi managed to alert the authorities while DePape was distracted. When the police arrived, they found both men grappling for control of the hammer. DePape ignored the officers' commands to drop the weapon and instead struck Pelosi on the head, fracturing his skull.
During the state trial, San Francisco Public Defender Adam Lipson painted a picture of DePape as a solitary figure who had fallen "down the rabbit hole of propaganda and conspiracy theories" prior to the assault. Lipson conceded that DePape was guilty of three of the charges but argued that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to convict him of threatening a family member of a public official and aggravated kidnapping.
The November federal case saw DePape convicted on assault and attempted kidnapping charges, with his sentencing taking place in May. This latest conviction adds to the litany of charges against him, underscoring the severity of his actions. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers public officials and their families can face, even within the supposed safety of their own homes.
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