(UnitedHeadlines.com) – On May 10, the Department of Justice requested the man convicted of attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, receive a 40-year sentence.
In November 2023, David DePape was found guilty of the federal charges of kidnapping and assault related to the Oct. 28, 2022, attack when DePape broke into Pelosi’s home, threatened to kidnap Nancy Pelosi, and attacked Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer. Paul Pelosi, who was hospitalized for six days, suffered a skull fracture from the attack as well as other injuries.
In the memo from the DOJ, the prosecutors requested the maximum sentence, which “must accomplish specific and general deterrence.” Prosecutors wrote that the “case presents strong deterrent value” and the maximum sentence will show “violent ideological attacks” will receive the maximum punishment. The prosecutors requested that the attack be labeled as terrorism, adding that “the terrorism enhancement should apply here.”
In requesting the maximum sentence, U.S. attorney Ismail Ramsey, assistant U.S. attorney Laura Horn, and assistant U.S. attorney Helen Gilbert wrote that DePape “planned and unleashed violence” during the attack, noting that he “has stayed true to his belief that his actions were necessary.”
During the trial, DePape, who had pleaded not guilty, testified that he intended to kidnap the former speaker before he attacked her husband. While he testified that Paul Pelosi was not his intended target, he also testified to having a list of other intended targets, including former Vice President Mike Pence, Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, actor Tom Hanks, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Hunter Biden.
During the trial, DePape’s attorney, Jodi Linker, argued that DePape’s motivation for the attack did not match the charges against him, noting that the “why matters” in the case.
DePape will be sentenced on May 17. At the state level, he is also still facing charges of assault, burglary, and attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
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