Nancy Pelosi's husband 'violently assaulted' at San Francisco home

Suspect in Paul Pelosi attack believes conspiracies but didn’t try to kidnap House speaker, attorney says​

Defense attorneys for the man accused of bludgeoning the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer last year told jurors Thursday they acknowledge their client committed a crime and harbored “bizarre” far-right conspiracy theories, but they disputed federal charges that he attempted to kidnap the congresswoman and assaulted Paul Pelosi in connection with her official duties.

“Members of the jury, many of us do not believe any of that. We think it’s bogus,” Linker said. “You may think it is all lies, harmful lies that are in fact destroying the country. ... But the evidence in this trial will show that Mr. DePape believes these things, he believes them with every ounce of his being. He believes them firmly and completely and it is these beliefs, wholly unrelated to Nancy Pelosi’s official duties to Congress, that propelled him to act that night.”

“And in this court, on these two charges, these beliefs matter,” she added, because the government is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that DePape acted in response to Nancy Pelosi’s official duties.

DePape faces up to a combined 50 years in prison for attempted kidnapping of the former speaker and assaulting Paul Pelosi with the intent to interfere with the lawmaker’s official duties or retaliate against her. He also faces state charges including assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and threats to a public official and their family.

['He's not political; he's more of a pizza place shooter upper.' However...]

In another police body camera video taken shortly after the crime, DePape seems to offer an admission.

“I’m sick of the insane [doggone] level of lies coming out of Washington, D.C.,” he told officers. “I didn’t really want to hurt him, but you know, this was a suicide mission, and you know, with the [poop] that’s going on in [doggone] Washington, D.C., I’m not just going to stand here and do nothing.

Man charged in Paul Pelosi attack details descent into conspiracy theories during federal trial​

[Long ago] he considered himself to be left-leaning politically

DePape explained that his first foray into America’s “culture war” was through Gamergate, a right-wing harassment campaign against women and journalists in the gaming industry. From there, he turned his attention to the mainstream media’s coverage of former President Trump and what he perceived as corruption in the Democratic Party.

DePape spent entire days on the internet watching YouTube and listening to right-leaning political podcasts while playing video games in a garage he called home in Richmond, north of Oakland. His favorite podcasters included right-wing pundit Tim Pool and James Lindsay, a conservative influencer that the nonprofit advocacy organization Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a promoter of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and “conspiracy theories about the supposed communist takeover of the world.”

[Russiagate, Pizzagate, █████...]

Man who attacked Paul Pelosi with hammer found guilty of all charges​

The first charge was attempting to kidnap a federal official on account of the performance of official duties. The second was assaulting one of the official’s immediate family members with intent to impede, intimidate or interfere with the official’s work or with intent to retaliate against her because of her job performance.

The key question for the jury was whether DePape did those things because of Nancy Pelosi’s performance of her job representing San Francisco in Congress. After about nine hours of deliberations over two days, the jury found that he did.

[DePape also faces a slate of serious state charges.]

Prosecutors seek 40-year sentence for man who attacked Paul Pelosi​

The Justice Department argues that the case “presents a moment to speak to others harboring ideologically motivated violent dreams and plans.”

Federal prosecutors argue that the crimes constitute an act of terrorism under U.S. law, in a sentencing memorandum submitted Friday.

Prosecutors cited federal law, which includes in the definition of terrorism an offense “calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct.”

At trial in November, DePape’s attorney, federal public defender Jodi Linker, argued that DePape’s actions were not in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi’s work as House speaker, but out of a █████-fueled desire to free █████ from the clutches of a ██████ █████ █████.

In statements after his arrest, the government notes, DePape, 43, of Richmond, Calif., said he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and break her kneecaps to show other members of Congress that “lies and corruption had a price.”

essentialsaltes said:

Prosecutors seek 40-year sentence for man who attacked Paul Pelosi​

The Justice Department argues that the case “presents a moment to speak to others harboring ideologically motivated violent dreams and plans.”

Federal prosecutors argue that the crimes constitute an act of terrorism under U.S. law, in a sentencing memorandum submitted Friday.

Prosecutors cited federal law, which includes in the definition of terrorism an offense “calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct.”

At trial in November, DePape’s attorney, federal public defender Jodi Linker, argued that DePape’s actions were not in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi’s work as House speaker, but out of a █████-fueled desire to free █████ from the clutches of a ██████ █████ █████.

In statements after his arrest, the government notes, DePape, 43, of Richmond, Calif., said he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and break her kneecaps to show other members of Congress that “lies and corruption had a price.”

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If only prosecutors could bring charges against whoever it is that’s radicalizing people to act this way. Social media and the internet have broken people’s brains.

GoldenBoy89 said:

If only prosecutors could bring charges against whoever it is that’s radicalizing people to act this way. Social media and the internet have broken people’s brains.

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It seems like the best thing they can do. Is to sue news stations/ sources for knowingly allowed their employees to lie. That's already happened. But sadly people defend their rights to keep lying to them. Imagine all people , that are claiming to be Christians . The made false statements about Paul Pelosi.

I'm glad to see he wasn't attacked a second time... Seeing this thread pop up was confusing for a minute... Lol

What a rubbishy defence! Bang him up!

Three blows to the head with a hammer? Mr Pelosi is lucky to have survived.

Happy he wasn't assaulted twice- hope he is doing well ok.

Pelosi's attacker was a Canadian illegal alien overstaying his visa.

Personally, I think 40 years is too lenient. It is an especially heinous crime to attack an elderly man.

FireDragon76 said:

Pelosi's attacker was a Canadian illegal alien overstaying his visa.

Personally, I think 40 years is too lenient. It is an especially heinous crime to attack an elderly man.

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In CA, with okay behavior. He might get less than 20 years.

essentialsaltes said:

Prosecutors seek 40-year sentence for man who attacked Paul Pelosi​

The Justice Department argues that the case “presents a moment to speak to others harboring ideologically motivated violent dreams and plans.”

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David DePape sentenced to 30 years in attempted Nancy Pelosi kidnapping, hammer attack on husband​

Paul Pelosi said [in a letter read by his daughter in court] his life “has been irrevocably changed,” and that he hasn’t fully recovered. He noted that a blood stain on the front entryway and the metal plate now embedded in his head serve as enduring reminders of the assault.

DePape faced a combined 50 years in federal prison: 30 years on the assault charge and 20 years for the attempted kidnapping. Scott Corley sentenced him to the maximum term on both counts, but to be served concurrently for a total of 30 years. He will get credit for the roughly 18 months he has spent in state custody.

DePape’s federal public defenders, Jodi Linker and Angela Chuang, had urged the judge to consider a more lenient 14-year sentence, arguing their client suffers from mental health issues and trauma from an abusive relationship with Gypsy Taub, his former romantic partner and the mother of his children.

Still-pending state charges accuse DePape of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and threats to a public official and her family.

Maybe California has rediscovered law enforcement is actually needed for society to function.

In child sex trafficking, the demos initially obstructed sound prosecution.


Finally, sanity prevailed.


https://sr12.senate.ca.gov/content/gov-newsom-signs-sen-groves-bill-increase-penalties-sex-trafficking-children#:~:text=2023-,Sen.,under%20California's%20Three%20Strikes%20law.

Lukaris said:

Maybe California has rediscovered law enforcement is actually needed for society to function.

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Wow, it's hard to even count the levels of irrelevance and off-topic-tude of this comment.

It was not-a-California trial of someone who attacked a relative of someone who is not-a-California legislator.

essentialsaltes said:

Wow, it's hard to even count the levels of irrelevance and off-topic-tude of this comment.

It was not-a-California trial of someone who attacked a relative of someone who is not-a-California legislator.

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Of course it is not related to the criminal environment that has plagued California. I forget that the Pelosis must live in Utah or somewhere else.

Lukaris said:

Of course it is not related to the criminal environment that has plagued California. I forget that the Pelosis must live in Utah or somewhere else.

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That argument might hold some weight if this was a random incident of violence, but it wasn't. Congresswoman Pelosi was specifically targeted because of her position in the Democratic party, and she would have been no matter where she lived.


ETA: It's also worth pointing out that several states have higher crime rates than California, including Utah.

Arcangl86 said:

That argument might hold some weight if this was a random incident of violence, but it wasn't. Congresswoman Pelosi was specifically targeted because of her position in the Democratic party, and she would have been no matter where she lived.


ETA: It's also worth pointing out that several states have higher crime rates than California, including Utah.

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I'd be interested in a citation. A quick google for violent crime rate, California is quite a bit higher than Utah.



ETA: I found this which does show Utah having an overall higher crime rate: Crime Rate by State 2024

A nutcase of any political bent might think twice of committing a crime if there is a greater respect for general law enforcement. This is on a state, federal, & local level and this includes law enforcement departments as well as general society.

Like poverty, crime will always be a problem. I believe the sensible mechanisms for law enforcement have been disrupted mainly by democrats. California, to me, is the general flashpoint for this. My hope is that maybe the democrats are waking up but will always be skeptical.

Lukaris said:

A nutcase of any political bent might think twice of committing a crime if there is a greater respect for general law enforcement. This is on a state, federal, & local level and this includes law enforcement departments as well as general society.

Like poverty, crime will always be a problem. I believe the sensible mechanisms for law enforcement have been disrupted mainly by democrats. California, to me, is the general flashpoint for this. My hope is that maybe the democrats are waking up but will always be skeptical.

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Are you serious? You are holding democrats in some way responsible for an assault on an old man with a hammer?

Prosecutors ask to reopen sentencing so Paul Pelosi’s attacker may speak​

Prosecutors filed a motion in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Friday saying DePape should have been given an opportunity to allocute — or speak on his behalf — before being sentenced.

While DePape was not obligated to speak, “the record does not state that he had the opportunity to do so” as required, prosecutors wrote in their motion. The prosecutors asked for DePape’s sentencing to be reopened within two weeks “for the limited purpose of addressing the defendant to permit him to allocute, if he so chooses.”