Conspiracy theorist who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison

The conspiracy theorist who tried to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and attacked her husband with a hammer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

David DePape, 44, broke into the Pelosi home in October 2022 and attacked 84-year-old Paul Pelosi, leaving him hospitalized for six days with a fractured skull.

Ms. Pelosi, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, had called for a long prison sentence for DePape, who was found guilty by the jury after a six-day trial last November. She was not on the property at the time of the attack.

On Wednesday, DePape was sentenced in a San Francisco court to 20 years on one count and 30 years on another count, to run concurrently.

“The Pelosi family could not be prouder of their father and his tremendous courage to save his own life and testify in this case on the night of the attack,” a Pelosi family spokesman said in a statement.

“Speaker Pelosi and her family are immensely grateful to everyone who has sent love and prayers over the past eighteen months as Mr. Pelosi continues his recovery.”

DePape admitted during the trial that he had intended to take the speaker hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him.

He also admitted to killing Paul Pelosi with a hammer after police showed up, saying he did so because his plan to end government corruption was failing.

The attack on then 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was captured on video by a police body camera just days before the US midterm elections.

To defuse, his defense argued that DePape was motivated by his political beliefs, not because he wanted to interfere with Nancy Pelosi’s official duties as a member of Congress, and that he was involved in conspiracy theories.

At trial, DePape, a Canadian who moved to the United States more than 20 years ago, testified that he believed news outlets had repeatedly lied about former President Donald Trump.

He told jurors that he had subscribed to the baseless right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory that a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles ran the U.S. government.

DePape also told jurors that he planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and record his interrogation of the Democratic speaker, who was not home at the time of the attack, to upload online.

DePape also faces charges in state court of assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and residential burglary. Jury selection in that trial is expected to begin Wednesday.

Paul Pelosi suffered two head wounds in the attack, including a fractured skull that was repaired with plates and screws that he will wear for the rest of his life.

His right arm and hand were also injured.