Prosecutors with the Department of Justice are seeking a 40-year sentence for the man found guilty of attacking former Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi with a hammer inside his San Francisco home.

Back in October 2022, Paul, Mr. Pelosi was attacked by David DePape with a hammer. DePape was convicted back in November on one count of assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and a second count of attempted kidnapping of a federal official.

In a

20-page memo filed on Friday, prosecutors argued that a heavy sentence on DePape could discourage other individuals from enforcing political violence.

“The defendant planned a violent hostage-taking of the Speaker Emerita, and then nearly killed her husband,” prosecutors wrote in the memo. “The defendant planned and unleashed violence and has stayed true to his belief that his actions were necessary.”

During testimony at the trial, Paul Pelosi stated that he awoke to DePape standing in his home with a hammer before asking him where his wife was. Later on, Pelosi awoke in a pool of his own blood after DePape had struck him in the head with the weapon.

“At a time when extremism has led to attacks on public and elected officials, this case presents a moment to speak to others harboring ideologically motivated violent dreams and plans,” the DOJ prosecutors added.

Federal sentencing for DePape is set to begin on May 17th in California. However, he also faces separate state charges including attempted murder, burglary, and assault, all of which he pleaded not guilty to.

During the trial, DePape’s lawyer Jodi Linker admitted that her client did attack Pelosi but that his motivations were not political.

“This case here is about the why — the why matters,” Linker had argued to the jury. “This case is about whether David acted because of, on account of, Nancy Pelosi’s duties as a member of Congress. He didn’t, and he only struck Paul Pelosi in a quick moment of despair because the police arrived and his larger plan was thwarted.”

The post DOJ Seeking 40-Year Sentence For Man Who Attacked Paul Pelosi With A Hammer first appeared on Mediaite.

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/4AMmUly