The man convicted of breaking into the home of top United States legislator Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The sentence for the 44-year-old David DePape, was handed by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley on Friday.
Africa Today News, New York reports that a US jury found DePape guilty last November of the attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. Prosecutors had asked for a 40-year prison term.
DePape admitted during trial testimony that he broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home on October 28, 2022, intending to hold the then-speaker of the US House of Representatives hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him.
He also admitted to bludgeoning her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer after police showed up, saying his plan to end what he viewed as government corruption was unravelling.
Footage of the attack on Paul Pelosi was also made public last January following petitions from news agencies to release the video and emergency services call.
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Paul Pelosi suffered two head wounds in the attack, including a skull fracture that was mended with plates and screws. His right arm and hand were also injured.
On Friday, the judge who handed down DePape’s sentence, Corley, said she took into account the fact that he broke into the home of a public official, an unprecedented act in the history of the country.
“He actually went to the home, that is completely, completely unprecedented,” the judge said.
DePape was given 20 years for one count and 30 years for another count. The sentences will run concurrently. He was also given credit for the 18 months that he’s been in custody.
Defence lawyer had argued that DePape was motivated by his political beliefs, and not because he wanted to interfere with Pelosi’s official duties as a member of Congress, making the charges against him invalid.
One of his lawyers, Angela Chuang, said during closing arguments that DePape was caught up in conspiracy theories.