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Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to sentence David Depapp to 40 years in prison for breaking into the home of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022 in an attempt to kidnap her and “nearly kill” her husband with a hammer.
The request was reported by San Francisco Chronicle late Friday ahead of DePape’s sentencing hearing, scheduled for May 17.
De Pape was convicted last year for attempted kidnapping of a federal employee and assault on the immediate family member of a federal employee.
According to court documents, the Chronicle reported, DePape showed no remorse for the attack and “seemed proud of what he had accomplished.”
“There is nothing about the defendant’s history and characteristics that warrants leniency,” federal prosecutors wrote in court documents. “The accused admitted – even boasted – that he knew what he was doing.”
The “traumatic” hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, then 82, on October 28, 2022 – days before the midterm elections – was captured on video by a police body camera and sent shockwaves through the political world.
Prosecutors described Depapp’s attack as an act of terrorism. Depapp admitted during court testimony that he broke into the former speaker’s house with the intention of holding her hostage and “breaking her kneecaps if she lied to him.” He also admitted to hitting Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police showed up at the home, telling them his plan to end what he said was government corruption was falling apart.
During the trial, defense attorneys argued that DePape was drawn into conspiracy theories that led him to commit the crimes. He has a documented history of promoting conspiracy theories and far-right messages. On Facebook, he shared videos falsely claiming that the 2020 election was stolen by Donald Trump, as well as disinformation about the January 6 riot.
In court, Depapp wept as he spoke about his political beliefs, explaining how he had come to support baseless narratives that a cabal of pedophiles was behind the US government. He also said he wanted to talk to Nancy Pelosi about the 2016 election and that he intended to question her while wearing an inflatable unicorn costume and planned to record the questioning to upload to the Internet .
Prosecutors said DePape broke down the door of the Pelosis’ San Francisco home at 2 a.m. and stumbled upon a sleeping Paul Pelosi. He stood over Paul Pelosi with ties and a hammer and asked, “Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?” Nancy Pelosi was not in the home at the time of the attack.
Paul Pelosi manages to call the police and when they arrive, Depapp hits Paul Pelosi in the head with the hammer, knocking him unconscious. Paul Pelosi was hospitalized with a fractured skull and injuries to his hands and arm. Part of the incident was caught on a police surveillance camera, and an FBI agent testified that the video showed Depapp hitting Pelosi at least three times.
Paul Pelosi suffered two wounds to his head, including the skull fracture, which was fixed with plates and screws, which he will wear for the rest of his life.
“It was a huge shock to find out that someone had broken into the house, and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the ties, I realized I was in serious danger, so I tried to keep as calm as possible,” Paul Pelosi told jurors.
During the trial, Depapp said of Paul Pelosi, “He was never my target and I’m sorry he was hurt.
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