GUILTY CA - Paul Pelosi, the speaker’s husband, violently attacked after assailant broke into their SF home, Oct 2022 *arrest*

[LinasK]

Well, neither was Paul Pelosi.

Maybe the judge took into account that the attacker's true target was Nancy Pelosi. But yet, Nancy was never in danger that night.

The ONLY reason that Nancy wasn't in danger that night is because she was away in Washington DC, which DePape didn't take into account when he planned his attack- pre-meditated or she very much would have been harmed.

 

[Inthedetails]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought he only hit him once. Either way, what he did was horrific. I'm just saying I don't think it rises to the punishment level of murder or child rape. I think if we give this guy an ultimate punishment--where do we go when the crimes get worse?

Hitting "only once" is MORE than too much, but, in fact, Mr. Pelosi was struck more than once:

"In addition to a fractured skull, Mr Pelosi suffered injuries to his arm and hand. He was struck three times during the attack."

And, the perp was found guilty of "kidnapping, first-degree burglary and false imprisonment of an elder."

Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life in prison in California trial

David DePape is also serving a 30-year prison sentence after he was convicted on federal charges in May.

www.bbc.com

It's not like he punched some random guy and got life imprisonment for it. The crime was much more than "only one" hit.

jmo

 

[LinasK]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought he only hit him once. Either way, what he did was horrific. I'm just saying I don't think it rises to the punishment level of murder or child rape. I think if we give this guy an ultimate punishment--where do we go when the crimes get worse?

There's always the Death Penalty- and it's not done by "chopping them into little bits". We are a more humane society than that. Attempted murder should be treated as harshly as murder. Just because the murderer didn't succeed doesn't make it any less heinous.

 

[Betty P]

The ONLY reason that Nancy wasn't in danger that night is because she was away in Washington DC, which DePape didn't take into account when he planned his attack- pre-meditated or she very much would have been harmed.

Members of House and Senate don't make their schedules public anymore for this reason. It's unfortunate. Many spouses have been harassed and attacked, but you don't always read about it in the newspaper. I know my senator's wife was attacked several years ago by a man, in the parking lot of the grocery store. She was loading groceries into the back of her car when he hit her and shoved her into the trunk. Any one of those kind of incidents can turn deadly in an instant. All the nuts carry guns these days. It was fortunate for the Pelosi family that DePape didn't have a gun.

 

[LinasK]

Well, neither was Paul Pelosi.

Maybe the judge took into account that the attacker's true target was Nancy Pelosi. But yet, Nancy was never in danger that night.

You are missing the point. DePape wasn't so out of it mentally that he didn't know who his target was. He was considered mentally competent for both of his trials- state and federal. He purposely picked a political target. If DePape could have harmed Nancy, Paul may or may not have been spared, but Nancy was his primary target because she was Speaker of the House.

 

[Betty P]

You are missing the point. DePape wasn't so out of it mentally that he didn't know who his target was. He was considered mentally competent for both of his trials- state and federal. He purposely picked a political target. If DePape could have harmed Nancy, Paul may or may not have been spared, but Nancy was his primary target because she was Speaker of the House.

I recall reading that his neighbors said he had changed that year. He had quit his job and spent all of his time on his computer following conspiracy theories on political web sites. He knew exactly who he was targeting, though he didn't realize the terrible stuff he was reading and posting was false.

Alleged Paul Pelosi attacker posted multiple conspiracy theories | CNN Politics

The man who allegedly attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband early Friday posted memes and conspiracy theories on Facebook about Covid vaccines, the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, and an acquaintance told CNN that he seemed "out of touch with reality."

www.cnn.com

The man who allegedly attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband early Friday posted memes and conspiracy theories on Facebook about Covid vaccines, the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and an acquaintance told CNN that he seemed “out of touch with reality.”

ETA: He also researched other political targets online, besides Pelosi

The federal prosecutor Laura Vartain Horn told the jurors that DePape started planning the attack in August, and that the evidence and FBI testimony will show he researched his targets online, collecting phone numbers and addresses, even paying for a public records service to find information about Nancy Pelosi and others.

Man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi absorbed conspiracy theories, trial hears

David DePape, 43, charged with breaking into San Francisco home of Nancy Pelosi and husband and carrying out hammer attack

www.theguardian.com

He's a threat to all politicians he dislikes. That's probably why they won't consider letting him out on parole.

 

[LinasK]

One other point for GRT: Rand Paul wasn't targeted because he was a Senator. It was a beef that his neighbor had as a neighbor- leaves or something.

 

[branmuffin]

Well, neither was Paul Pelosi.

Maybe the judge took into account that the attacker's true target was Nancy Pelosi. But yet, Nancy was never in danger that night.

Perhaps you are being deliberately obtuse. LePape went to the Pelosi home to kidnap Nancy. He was going to take her hostage. Even though she wasn't there, you don't reduce the charge to a misdemeanor. Intent matters.

If you walk into a bank intending to rob it and half way through the robbery you change your mind and decide the beat the crap out of some hapless customer you will still get charged with attempted robbery and aggravated assault.

He went there to kidnap Nancy and in her absence decided to bash her 82 year old husband's head in with a hammer. Just one bash though, right? No biggie.

Here's an excerpt relating to federal kidnapping charges:

"Hostage Taking(18 U.S.C. 1203). This is the act of detaining and threatening to kill or injure someone to coerce a third party or government agency to do something in exchange for their release.

Taking a hostage carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, or even the death penalty if the hostage is killed."

 

[Betty P]

He was into all that crazy QAnon stuff. He believed all their claims that Pelosi and other politicians were running a child sex ring out of a pizza parlor. You can't reason with people like that. They're dangerous to the public or anyone they believe is their enemy.

If he's smart, he'll use his time wisely in prison and stop believing that stuff. Learn something new, a skill. He used to build decks, IIRC, maybe he can do carpentry. Well, nevermind. He can't be trusted with a hammer anymore.

 

[ilovewings]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought he only hit him once. Either way, what he did was horrific. I'm just saying I don't think it rises to the punishment level of murder or child rape. I think if we give this guy an ultimate punishment--where do we go when the crimes get worse?

Mr Pelosi, in his impact statement, described "blows" with the hammer, suggesting
More than one strike with the hammer.

 

[GRT]

Mr Pelosi, in his impact statement, described "blows" with the hammer, suggesting
More than one strike with the hammer.

Yes, I read that too, and there were other injuries, like a serious one to his hand.

 

[GRT]

Perhaps you are being deliberately obtuse. LePape went to the Pelosi home to kidnap Nancy. He was going to take her hostage. Even though she wasn't there, you don't reduce the charge to a misdemeanor. Intent matters.

If you walk into a bank intending to rob it and half way through the robbery you change your mind and decide the beat the crap out of some hapless customer you will still get charged with attempted robbery and aggravated assault.

He went there to kidnap Nancy and in her absence decided to bash her 82 year old husband's head in with a hammer. Just one bash though, right? No biggie.

Here's an excerpt relating to federal kidnapping charges:

"Hostage Taking(18 U.S.C. 1203). This is the act of detaining and threatening to kill or injure someone to coerce a third party or government agency to do something in exchange for their release.

Taking a hostage carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, or even the death penalty if the hostage is killed."

Why would you assume I would want the charges reduced to a misdemeanor? Did I say something that confused you?

I'm only pointing out that similar charges as those the attacker was found guilty of typically do not carry that type of sentence.

 

[GRT]

You are missing the point. DePape wasn't so out of it mentally that he didn't know who his target was. He was considered mentally competent for both of his trials- state and federal. He purposely picked a political target. If DePape could have harmed Nancy, Paul may or may not have been spared, but Nancy was his primary target because she was Speaker of the House.

I understand the circumstances; I'm just pointing out the discrepancy in the severity of his sentence compared to others who are similarly sentenced.

 

[GRT]

There's always the Death Penalty- and it's not done by "chopping them into little bits". We are a more humane society than that. Attempted murder should be treated as harshly as murder. Just because the murderer didn't succeed doesn't make it any less heinous.

Okay, but consider this...

The attacker breaks in and hits Mr. Pelosi on the head, leaving him with serious injuries. He gets life without parole.

Compare that to Bryan Kohberger. If he's convicted and doesn't get the death penalty, he'll receive life without parole.

Are we prepared to sentence all home intruders who assault their victims to life without parole? I did a little research and found the typical sentence is usually much shorter.

That leads me to believe this attacker will eventually receive a reduced sentence. That's just my opinion based on my research.

 

[GRT]

Hitting "only once" is MORE than too much, but, in fact, Mr. Pelosi was struck more than once:

"In addition to a fractured skull, Mr Pelosi suffered injuries to his arm and hand. He was struck three times during the attack."

And, the perp was found guilty of "kidnapping, first-degree burglary and false imprisonment of an elder."

Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life in prison in California trial

David DePape is also serving a 30-year prison sentence after he was convicted on federal charges in May.

www.bbc.com

It's not like he punched some random guy and got life imprisonment for it. The crime was much more than "only one" hit.

jmo

Yes, I saw that and posted the link to Mr. Pelosi's impact statement yesterday.

But, there's still a discrepancy in the sentence based on the charges and convictions.

 

[GRT]

The ONLY reason that Nancy wasn't in danger that night is because she was away in Washington DC, which DePape didn't take into account when he planned his attack- pre-meditated or she very much would have been harmed.

Agreed.

 

[Inthedetails]

Okay, but consider this...

The attacker breaks in and hits Mr. Pelosi on the head, leaving him with serious injuries. He gets life without parole.

Compare that to Bryan Kohberger. If he's convicted and doesn't get the death penalty, he'll receive life without parole.

Are we prepared to sentence all home intruders who assault their victims to life without parole? I did a little research and found the typical sentence is usually much shorter.

That leads me to believe this attacker will eventually receive a reduced sentence. That's just my opinion based on my research.

He did more than simply assault a victim to the strict sentence. It's been posted, repeatedly, what he has been convicted of and a quick google search will show the charges.
jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

The kidnapping charges in some cases can result in a life sentence. This sentence is not out of bounds, imo.
jmo

 

[GRT]

Yes, and his primary target was the Speaker of the House- 3rd in line for the presidency.. It's just fortunate for her and the rest of the country that she was away in Washington D.C. at the time. Her husband had to bear the brunt of the attack in her absence. Her security (by that I mean Secret Service and SFPD, not her alarm system) both failed her and her husband miserably.

That may well be the reason for the tougher sentence. But why didn't the judge spell that out?

 

[GRT]

He did more than simply assault a victim to the strict sentence. It's been posted, repeatedly, what he has been convicted of and a quick google search will show the charges.
jmo

Yes, I've read all those charges. But there's still a discrepancy in the sentencing. It's probably as LinasK says -- it's probably mostly because of the "intended" target. I just think we're going to see that one reduced in the future. MOO