Nancy Pelosi has not discussed the attack with her husband, whose skull was fractured with a hammer.

The man who attacked the husband of former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

David DePape was convicted of assault and attempted kidnapping of a federal official in November after a week-long trial in San Francisco.

The attack left Paul Pelosi, now 84, in hospital for six days with a fractured skull and other injuries.

…

Prosecutors, however, argued that DePape had a “plan of violence”, noting that he told investigators he had a “target list” and plan to break Mrs Pelosi’s kneecaps if she did not reveal “the truth”. At the time of his arrest, DePape had zip ties and duct tape.

…

In addition to the federal charges, DePape is facing separate state charges stemming from the attack. They include burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and attempted murder.

He faces life imprisonment if convicted of those charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

  • jballs@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    57·
    6 months ago

    DePape’s court-appointed lawyer, Jodi Linker, argued that her client was motivated by right-wing conspiracy theories, which the defendant believed “with every ounce of his being”.

    Wtf that was his defense? “It’s not my fault. I was freebasing Fox News at the time!”

    • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
      13·
      6 months ago

      I mean, she’s a public defender. He’s lucky she’s making any arguments at all. Most public defenders are so busy that they only have time to do the bare minimum “make sure all the paperwork is properly filed” effort. They don’t really have time to make long drawn out legal battles in court, because they have nine other cases to argue later that day. They also can’t lie in court because that’s an ethics violation. So she can’t just use the Shaggy “it wasn’t me” defense to try and convince a jury he didn’t do it.

      If I had to take a guess, this argument is actually coming from him, and she’s basically making the argument to the best of her ability. I doubt a plea deal was offered, because they caught him red handed and it’s an extremely high profile case; The prosecutor is likely going to try and make an example out of him. So she likely didn’t have the opportunity to push him to take a plea deal. And she can’t mount a major legal battle. So this is her “fuck it, I guess we’ll ensure his legal rights are upheld” effort.

      • LeadersAtWork@lemmy.world
        3·
        6 months ago

        I just want to remind everyone that public defenders are lawyers and that their skill levels and level of staffing-to-caseload will also vary. They tend to be labeled as pseudo-lawyers and shit like that, so I wished to stick my nose in with a now you know.

      • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.world
        21·
        6 months ago

        I mean she’s right too, the pipeline pushes the unstable to act violently against specific targets. There should be culpability for the propaganda factories that put this idea into this man’s head.

        Also Public Defenders are woefully underfunded, and prosecutors are over funded and in bed with the Police.

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
      53·
      6 months ago

      My thoughts exactly. Actually if anything they should get 30 years and this guy seems more suitable to 10 imo but meh

      • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
        3·
        6 months ago

        Only 10 years for violently attempting to kill someone with a hammer!?

        Assuming he’s mentally fit to stand trial, that’s “get caught with weed in a red state” time…

        • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
          2·
          6 months ago

          I knew someone would say something like this. There’s a reason I’m not a judge… I’m just saying if you’re involved in a violent mob trying to overthrow the government, that seems worse to me

          • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
            2·
            6 months ago

            I like your honesty. I shouldn’t be a judge either because I have strong opinions. But I’d like to remind everyone that the Jan 6 defendants were all charged and tried separately. Some attacked police and tried to hang the Vice President. Some occupied the Capitol and shouted their dissatisfaction with a false narrative. Both are illegal, but shouldn’t be treated the same.

            Where I think we’d agree is that most of the Jan 6th defendants received far, far too light sentences. Such mild slaps on the wrist that I’m unfortunately expecting more violence if Biden wins again…

            • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
              2·
              6 months ago

              Yeah I’m with you. And it’s true not every Jan 6 person was out for blood, which would exempt them from the wrath I was mentioning :)

    • Lemminary@lemmy.world
      301·
      6 months ago

      the trial shows DePape, a Canadian citizen who has lived in the US for two decades, breaking into the Pelosi home

      He’s Canadian?? I hate this timeline. Nothing makes sense anymore.

        • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
          21·
          6 months ago

          DePape, according to prosecutors, was driven by conspiracy theories and had plans to tie the former speaker up and break her kneecaps if she lied to him.

          How was an inflatable unicorn costume involved?

          In prior testimony, DePape told the jury he planned to wear an inflatable unicorn costume and upload his interrogation of Speaker Pelosi online.

          Well, that sounds kind of grotesque.

          Kind of stands out to me more than the Canadian bit.

        • PseudorandomNoise@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          6 months ago

          The judge at Friday’s sentencing told the court that once he completes his prison sentence, DePape will be deported back to Canada by ICE immigration officials.

          Good, I was gonna ask if were booting him out because we should.

    • NegativeInf@lemmy.world
      71·
      6 months ago

      I searched images of this dude to make sure I wasn’t crazy or missing something about his hair (fade). Then it clicked, you meant face. I need a coffee.

  • fubarx
    22·
    6 months ago

    For those thinking that’s not enough. That’s federal. He still has to be sentenced in California state court. Could end up with an even longer sentence.

  • Kowowow@lemmy.ca
    14·
    6 months ago

    “Two men in their underwear with hammers, you do the math” alex jones

    Not sure about that math

  • Snapz@lemmy.world
    6·
    6 months ago

    trump didn’t commit this attempted murder in the same way that charles manson didn’t kill Sharon Tate.

  • BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world
    6·
    6 months ago

    Weaponized disinformation is doing terrible things to conservatives.

    Like I always thought they were crazy but they’re really crazy now.