Moments later, after being asked to drop his weapon, DePape suddenly attacked Mr Pelosi before being tackled to the ground by police. The entire incident was captured on a police body camera.
In addition to a fractured skull, Mr. Pelosi suffered injuries to his arms and hands. He was shot three times during the attack.
In a letter submitted before sentencing, Mrs Pelosi called on the court to sentence DePape to a “very long” prison term, adding that she and her husband had never been able to discuss the incident.
“Paul and I have yet to discuss the events of that terrible night,” she wrote. “Paul did not want to revisit the incident and medical advice was that discussing this vicious attack would only relive his trauma.”
During the trial, Mr. Pelosi testified that DePape said his plan was to “get rid of” Mrs. Pelosi, whom he called the “leader of the pack.”
“Looking at him, looking at the hammer and the tie, I was so shocked,” Pelosi recalled. “I realized I was in serious danger. I tried to stay as calm as possible.”
After the attack, Pelosi said his next memory was waking up to a “pool of blood” and being taken to the hospital.
In a letter to the court before sentencing, Pelosi said he was still dealing with the effects of the attack.
“I walk slowly and have trouble balancing. I have headaches almost every day that turn into migraines if not resolved quickly,” he wrote. “I need to sleep during the day and cannot tolerate prolonged bright lights or loud noises.”
DePape’s court-appointed attorney, Jodi Linker, argued that her client was driven by right-wing conspiracy theories that the defendant “believes with all his heart.”
However, prosecutors argued that DePape had a “violent plan,” noting that he told investigators he had a “target list” and planned to break Mrs. Pelosi’s kneecaps if she did not reveal the “truth.” DePape was arrested wearing a zip tie and duct tape.
In addition to the federal charges, DePape faces separate state charges in connection with the assault. These include burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and attempted murder.
If convicted of the charges, he faces life in prison. He pleads not guilty.
