Sentencing for man convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with hammer in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO -- The antheral convicted of attempting to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her hubby with a hammer is acceptable to beryllium sentenced successful national tribunal Friday.

Jurors recovered David DePape, 44, blameworthy successful November of attempted kidnapping of a national authoritative and battle connected the contiguous household subordinate of a national official. Prosecutors person asked Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for a 40-year situation term.

DePape admitted during proceedings grounds that helium broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco location connected October 28, 2022, intending to clasp the talker hostage and "break her kneecaps" if she lied to him. He besides acknowledged bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer aft constabulary showed up, saying his program to extremity what helium viewed arsenic authorities corruption was unraveling.

TIMELINE: Latest updates aft Paul Pelosi attacked wrong San Francisco home

The onslaught connected Paul Pelosi, who was 82 astatine the time, was captured connected constabulary assemblage camera video conscionable days earlier the midterm elections and sent shockwaves done the governmental world.

Defense attorneys argued DePape was motivated by his governmental beliefs, not due to the fact that helium wanted to interfere with the speaker's authoritative duties arsenic a subordinate of Congress, making the charges against him invalid.

One of his attorneys, Angela Chuang, said during closing arguments that DePape was caught up successful conspiracy theories.

At proceedings DePape, a Canadian who moved to the U.S. much than 20 years ago, testified helium believed quality outlets repeatedly lied astir erstwhile President Donald Trump. In rants posted connected a blog and online forum that were taken down aft his arrest, DePape echoed the baseless, right-wing conspiracy mentation QAnon, which claims that a cabal of devil-worshipping pedophiles runs the U.S. government.

VIDEO: Jury finds antheral who attacked Nancy Pelosi's hubby blameworthy of national assault, attempted kidnapping

DePape besides told jurors helium had planned to deterioration an inflatable unicorn costume and grounds his interrogation of the Democratic speaker, who was not astatine the location astatine the clip of the attack, to upload it online.

Prosecutors said helium had enactment and zip ties with him, and detectives recovered assemblage cameras, a machine and a tablet.

Paul Pelosi besides testified astatine the trial, recalling however helium was awakened by a ample antheral bursting into the chamber and asking, "Where's Nancy?" He said erstwhile helium responded that his woman was successful Washington, DePape said helium would necktie him up portion they waited for her.

"It was a tremendous consciousness of daze to admit that idiosyncratic had breached into the house, and looking astatine him and looking astatine the hammer and the ties, I recognized that I was successful superior danger, truthful I tried to enactment arsenic calm arsenic possible," Pelosi told jurors.

Pelosi suffered 2 caput wounds successful the attack, including a skull fracture that was mended with plates and screws helium volition person for the remainder of his life. His close limb and manus besides were injured.

DePape is besides charged successful authorities tribunal with battle with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, residential burglary and different felonies. Jury enactment successful that proceedings is expected to commencement May 22.