David DePape has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced, following his state court conviction for the 2022 attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. Jenkins stated, as per the SF District Attorney in a social media post, that DePape, 44, from Berkeley, California, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Harry Dorfman at the San Francisco Superior Court for charges including aggravated kidnapping and false imprisonment of an elder by violence or menace.
1/ Today, DA @BrookeJenkinsSF announced that David DePape was sentenced to a term of life in prison w/out parole following his conviction on aggravated kidnapping + other charges in connection to brutally attacking Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s, Paul Pelosi, husband in their home. https://t.co/6DIprtfAbc pic.twitter.com/KRPRVXUkam
— SF DISTRICT ATTORNEY (@SFDAOffice) October 29, 2024
The conviction comes nearly two years after the assault on Paul Pelosi in their San Francisco home, an event that sent shockwaves through the national community. According to the District Attorney's Office, the jury found DePape guilty of a suite of charges, notably aggravated kidnapping and first-degree residential burglary. DePape, who had previously been handed a 30-year federal sentence for the attack, faced the state trial to answer for his heinous actions.
Assistant District Attorneys Phoebe Maffei and Sean Connolly, quoted in the announcement, said via SF District Attorney in a social media X post, "There is no rejoicing in such cases. There are no winners. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant's conduct and the great harm he inflicted upon an innocent man." The case was successfully prosecuted with assistance from a dedicated team, including investigators and paralegals. It was built upon thorough investigations by the San Francisco Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In response to the felony charges, DePape's defense attorney, Adam Lipson, highlighted his client's descent into conspiracy theories, a point Lipson believes contributed to the tragic incident. DePape's isolated life is entangled with these theories and his mental health issues, according to CBS News. Despite the defense's narrative, the conviction underscores the jury's determination of DePape's culpability.
Voices from both the prosecution and the victim's family have pointed out the broader implications of such violence. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has emphasized that political violence must never normalize and that those who resort to intimidation must face serious consequences. Additionally, Aaron Bennett, spokesperson for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, expressed gratitude for the support and recognized Paul Pelosi's bravery during his recovery and testimony, as reported by Hoodline. The sentencing concludes a legal chapter while underscoring the necessity for ongoing vigilance against political violence.
