David DePape, the man accused of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and attacking her husband with a hammer, was found guilty on federal charges by a San Francisco jury on Thursday.
DePape was found guilty of “attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official,” the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California said. DePape now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The verdict came after jurors deliberated for eight hours. DePape did not show any emotion as it was read, according to multiple media outlets.
The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi that was captured on police body camera video just days before last year’s midterm elections sent shockwaves through the political world.
DePape, 43, admitted during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosis’ San Francisco home on Oct. 28, 2022, intending to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. During his hour on the stand, DePape recounted how his political leanings went from leftist to right wing after reading a comment on a YouTube video about former President Donald Trump. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after SF police officers showed up at the home, saying he realized his plan was unraveling.