Photo: Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Several state charges against David DePape, the man convicted of attacking Paul Pelosi, have been dismissed by a judge on Thursday (June 6). The dismissed charges include attempted murder, elder abuse, and assault with a deadly weapon. The decision was based on the argument of double jeopardy, as DePape was already convicted in federal court last month for the same act, according to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.
DePape was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison last month after being convicted of assaulting a federal official’s family member and attempting to kidnap a federal official. Despite the federal conviction, state prosecutors continued to pursue their own case against DePape, who attacked former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer inside their San Francisco home in 2022.
However, DePape still faces charges of false imprisonment, residential burglary, threatening a family member of a public official, attempting to sway a witness, and aggravated kidnapping. These charges were not part of the federal trial. DePape has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The state trial is expected to resume on June 14, and DePape could face up to life in prison on the remaining charges.