(Headline USA) A radical leftist with ties to a pedophile cult—who sought to generate negative headlines for Republicans just weeks before the 2022 midterm elections with a suspicious attack on the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.—failed to convince a jury that he had been brainwashed beyond the point of comprehending right from wrong.
A jury on Thursday convicted David DePape of federal charges for seeking to hold Pelosi hostage and attacking her husband with a hammer after breaking into the couple’s San Francisco home last October.
Jurors deliberated for about eight hours before finding DePape guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. DePape, who faces up to 50 years in prison, did not react as the verdict was read.
The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi that was captured on police body camera video just days before the midterm elections sent shockwaves through the political world.
DePape, 43, said during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosis’ home on Oct. 28, 2022, intending to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him.
He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after San Francisco police officers showed up at the home.
Hoping to capture the sympathies of a leftist San Francisco jury, defense attorneys largely echoed the dubious claims that Pelosi herself had made after the assault, saying—contrary to obvious evidence—that DePape was motivated by extreme right-wing political beliefs and was caught up in Q’Anon conspiracies.
The obvious discrepancies between the narrative and the evidentiary record—as well as the changing stories of law enforcement—drove many to suspect that the assault was the result of a romantic encounter gone wrong as Nancy Pelosi was out of town at the time. Paul Pelosi was in his underwear when police arrived.
At a news conference outside the federal courthouse where the verdict was read, U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey told reporters: “People can believe what they want and engage in passionate debate. But this guilty verdict on all counts sends a clear message that regardless of what your beliefs are, what you cannot do is physically attack a member of Congress or their immediate family for the performance of their job.”
Defense attorneys did not comment on the verdict.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. A status hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.
DePape, a Canadian citizen who moved to the U.S. more than 20 years ago, also is charged in state court with assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and other felonies. A state trial date will be set during a Nov. 29 hearing, said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. She said her office will confer with federal prosecutors and the Pelosis to determine next steps.
During his testimony, DePape told jurors he had planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and record his interrogation of Nancy Pelosi to upload it online. Prosecutors say he had rope and zip ties with him. Detectives also found body cameras, a computer and a tablet.
DePape testified that his plan was to get Nancy Pelosi to admit that she had been lying to the American people. “If she lied, I would break her kneecaps,” he said. “The choice is on her.”
He said he would then move to other targets, including a women’s and queer studies professor who testified at the trial, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks and President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.
Paul Pelosi also testified, recalling how he was awakened by a large man bursting into the bedroom door and asking, “Where’s Nancy?” He said that when he responded that his wife was in Washington, DePape said he would tie him up while they waited for her.
“It was a tremendous sense of shock to recognize that somebody had broken into the house and looking at him and looking at the hammer and the ties, I recognized that I was in serious danger, so I tried to stay as calm as possible,” Pelosi told jurors.
Pelosi recounted how he managed to call 911 with DePape looking on, urging Pelosi to tell police that he was a friend. Pelosi said he tried to tell police what was happening without aggravating DePape.
Pelosi recalled being thankful when the police arrived, only for DePape to then hit him with the hammer. He said he woke up in a pool of his own blood.
More than a year after the attack, he still hasn’t fully recovered, Pelosi said. A neurosurgeon who operated on him testified that Pelosi had two wounds on his head, including a fracture to his skull that had to be mended with plates and screws he will have for the rest of his life. Pelosi also needed stitches on injuries to his right arm and hand, the surgeon said.
A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi issued a statement after the verdict was announced saying Paul Pelosi “continues to make progress in his recovery” and that the family was grateful for the outpouring of support for him from people across the U.S..
DePape testified he thought Paul Pelosi was dead until he saw he was charged by San Francisco prosecutors with attempted murder.
“He was never my target and I’m sorry that he got hurt,” DePape said.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
