David DePape is shown in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 13, 2013. He was convicted of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home in October 2022, seeking to kidnap her and bludgeoning her husband. (Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
DePape was convicted last year of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. He is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.
The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi was captured on police body camera video just days before the 2022 midterm elections.
DePape admitted during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosi home intending to hold the then-Speaker hostage and "break her kneecaps" if she lied to him. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police showed up at the home, saying his plan to end what he viewed as government corruption was unraveling.
Defense attorneys said DePape was motivated by his political beliefs and caught up in conspiracy theories.
Paul Pelosi and Nancy Pelosi attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Nancy Pelosi was not at home at the time of the October 2022 incident.
From custody, DePape called the KTVU newsroom. In the call that was also played out during the trial, he said he had "an important message for everyone in America – you’re welcome."
Prosecutors said a medical examination at the hospital showed Paul Pelosi "suffered two skull fractures that had to be repaired in emergency surgery, along with a wound to his arm and his hand, which were also treated in surgery by specialized surgeons."
At trial, "a neurosurgeon who performed the surgeries testified that one of the skull fractures narrowly missed a vein that if lacerated would have caused life-threatening blood loss," the motion said.
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Friday's motion said DePape "planned a violent hostage-taking of the Speaker Emerita, and then nearly killed her husband." Given "the defendant planned and unleashed violence and has stayed true to his belief that his actions were necessary," the government recommended that the Court impose a term of 20 years on the attempted kidnapping count and 30 years on the assault count, with 20 years on count two to run consecutive to count one. Prosecutors said the Court should also impose "a term of three years of supervised release on Count One and five years on Count 2, and a $100 special assessment per count."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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