David DePape Sentenced for Attacking Paul Pelosi

David DePape was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for violently attacking Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a hammer in October 2022. This sentence follows a previous 30-year federal prison term for charges including aggravated kidnapping and first-degree burglary. Judge Harry Dorfman emphasized that DePape would never be paroled, despite defense arguments citing his mental health and susceptibility to online propaganda. During the attack, DePape sought to confront Nancy Pelosi, who was not home, and inflicted serious injuries on her 82-year-old husband, who required surgery after sustaining a skull fracture. In a bizarre statement before sentencing, DePape spoke of conspiracy theories but offered no apology to the Pelosi family. The incident, which occurred just days before the 2022 midterm elections, has been seen as a reflection of escalating political violence fueled by far-right rhetoric.