David DePape, the man who assaulted Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The attack, which occurred in October 2022, resulted in Paul Pelosi suffering a fractured skull and injuries to his arm and hand. Nancy Pelosi had advocated for a “very long” sentence for DePape, emphasizing the ongoing trauma her husband faced.
In a letter to the court, Nancy Pelosi mentioned, “Paul and I have not discussed the events of that horrible night. Paul doesn’t want to undergo revisiting it, and the doctors’ advice is that discussing the vicious assault would only renew his trauma.” Paul Pelosi also shared his suffering post-attack, stating, “I walk slowly and have difficulty with my balance. Nearly every day I get headaches that become migraines unless quickly addressed. I need to sleep during the day and cannot tolerate bright lights or loud noises for extended periods of time.”
The incident occurred when DePape broke into the Pelosis’ home, searching for Nancy Pelosi. He intended to hold her hostage and harm her if she did not provide the truth he sought. DePape’s defense attorney explained that DePape was driven by various right-wing conspiracy theories he found online and believed fervently.
Apart from the federal court sentence, DePape faces state charges in California, including attempted murder. If convicted on these charges, he could receive a life sentence.