Prosecutors are seeking 40 years in prison for man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department is seeking 40 years in prison for the man convicted of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and attacking her husband.

Federal prosecutors said David DePape’s crimes “represent an attack on our democracy and our core values” and argued that while he was not convicted of terrorism, his actions ultimately constituted terrorism. A 40-year sentence, prosecutors wrote in a memorandum filed Friday, would “reflect the nature and circumstances of the offense.”

A jury convicted DePape last year of federal assault and attempted kidnapping. DePape broke into the former House Speaker’s home in 2022 and hit her husband Paul Pelosi in the head with a hammer as they searched for her.

It later emerged that DePape was an avid supporter of right-wing conspiracy theories. DePape testified at his trial that he wanted to take Nancy Pelosi hostage and interrogate her. If he decided she was lying, he would “break her kneecaps,” he said.

DePape apologized to Paul Pelosi during the trial and said he was not his intended target.

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“He wanted to teach her a lesson,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. “The violent lessons the defendant sought to teach are unacceptable in this country.”

“At a time when extremism has led to attacks on public and elected officials, this case is an opportunity to speak with others who harbor ideologically motivated violent dreams and plans. This case has a strong deterrent effect in saying that violent ideological attacks will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the memorandum continued.

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