Federal DOJ Seeks 40-Year Prison Sentence for David DePape in Pelosi Attack

The federal Department of Justice is seeking a 40-year prison sentence for David DePape, the man convicted of attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. While DePape was not convicted of any terrorism charges, US attorneys are pushing for a “terrorism enhancement” to lengthen his time behind bars. They argue that the violent nature of the attack warrants a harsher punishment.

In a sentencing memorandum, US Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey emphasized that the defendant’s intentions were to promote a federal crime of terrorism, despite not being charged with terrorism directly. Ramsey stressed that such violent actions and the lessons they intended to teach are not tolerated in this country.

The attack on Paul Pelosi occurred in October 2022 at their San Francisco home. Police body camera footage captured the brutal assault, which left the 83-year-old with a fractured skull and other serious injuries. The jury found DePape guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official in retaliation for the performance of their duties.

During the trial, DePape took the stand and tearfully apologized for harming Paul Pelosi. He claimed that Pelosi was never his intended target and expressed remorse for the injuries he caused. DePape revealed that his real intention was to expose what he believed to be a global pedophile sex ring run by Democrat elites. According to him, Pelosi and other famous figures were part of a cabal of Satan-worshiping Democrat elites who engaged in such activities. These conspiracy theories were fueled by DePape’s devotion to fringe political podcasts.

Despite DePape’s apology and explanation, US attorneys argue that the terrorism enhancement should still apply due to his intent to promote a federal crime of terrorism. They believe that his actions and beliefs align with the definition of terrorism, justifying a longer prison sentence.

DePape is set to be sentenced on May 17 at the federal level. Following that, he will face trial on state charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The outcome of both proceedings will have significant implications for DePape’s future.