The Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing for a 40-year prison term for the individual who attacked the spouse of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in 2022.
According to prosecutors, David DePape, the individual responsible for breaking into Pelosi’s residence and attacking her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer, should receive the highest possible punishments for the two charges he was found guilty of in 2023.
“The prosecutors argued in a memorandum filed on Friday in a U.S. District Court in San Francisco that the sentence must serve as a deterrent both for the specific individual involved and for the general public.”
The authorities emphasized the significance of this case in addressing the issue of extremism and its consequences. In light of recent attacks on public and elected officials, they believe that it is crucial to send a clear message to those who entertain violent ideologies and harbor violent intentions. They believe that the punishment handed down in this case will serve as a strong deterrent, demonstrating that violent ideological attacks will be met with the full force of the law.
In November of last year, DePape was convicted of assault and kidnapping charges.
In court, he apologized for his actions and made it clear that Pelosi’s husband was never his intended target.
The prosecutors are aiming to categorize his crime as “terrorism.”
According to the prosecutors, the defendant had the intention to promote a federal crime of terrorism, which is why they argue that the terrorism enhancement should be applied in this case.
DePape is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17.
