David DePape has been found guilty by a federal jury of assaulting Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during a break-in at their San Francisco residence. The panel convicted DePape of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assaulting a family member of a federal official, with potential life imprisonment in federal prison. He also faces state charges, including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
The attack, which occurred on October 28, 2022, left 83-year-old Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull. The jury, consisting of 12 men and three women, reached a unanimous verdict.
DePape, 43, admitted to breaking into the Pelosi home and assaulting Paul Pelosi with a hammer. However, his defense argued that the attack was not intended as a kidnapping and was not specifically linked to Pelosi’s role as a federal lawmaker. They claimed DePape aimed to use the Pelosis to contact Gayle Rubin, a scholar and professor at the University of Michigan.
The trial highlighted the dangerous influence of conspiracy theories and misinformation. DePape took the stand, presenting a series of unfounded claims prevalent in far-right circles, revealing his motivations for the break-in.
Juror No. 3, who was exposed to a conversation about the case outside the courtroom, was allowed to remain on the case after Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley instructed the jury to consider only the evidence presented in court. The trial’s outcome underscores the serious consequences of politically motivated violence and misinformation.
