- Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life without parole
- In a statement, the Pelosi family said they hope the sentence deters attacks on politicians
- DePape’s defence claimed mental health and isolation as the reasons he was vulnerable to conspiracy theories
Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life without parole
David DePape, who assaulted Paul Pelosi in his San Francisco home in 2022, has been sentenced to life without parole on state charges, including kidnapping and burglary. This sentence follows a 30-year federal sentence, which he’ll serve concurrently.
The attack left Pelosi, now 84, hospitalised with a fractured skull and nerve damage. The Pelosi family expressed relief, hoping the sentence deters political violence.
In a statement after the sentencing, the Pelosi family said that “legal justice has been served”.
“Since the violent break-in and shouts of ‘where’s Nancy?’ two years ago, not a day goes by that we do not think of this devastating assault, its trauma — or the possibility of future attacks,” the family said.
They added they hope the sentence sends a message “that political violence against elected officials or their family members will not be tolerated”.
DePape’s lawyer argued mental health issues contributed to his actions in an attempt to get a lenient sentence, but Judge Harry Dorfman told him he feels no sympathy for DePape.
“I feel sympathy for the victim in this case, who’s lucky to be alive,” Judge Dorfman said as he handed down his sentence. “It’s my intention that Mr DePape will never get out of prison, he can never be paroled.”