David DePape, the man who broke into the residence of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) while she wasn't home and assaulted her husband, Paul Pelosi, was recently convicted. 

According to the Associated Press, DePape was found guilty of the "attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official."

While many questions were raised throughout the investigation into the bizarre incident, including details about Paul Pelosi's behavior during the assault, DePape ultimately wanted to kidnap the former speaker.

DePape said he was ready to break Nancy Pelosi's kneecaps if she lied to him.

Not part of the plan

DePape's lawyers, in their closing arguments, stated that his original plan was to abduct the former speaker and had no intention of assaulting Paul Pelosi.

KQED noted:

The four-day trial in a San Francisco courtroom focused on DePape’s failed plan to kidnap Nancy Pelosi by breaking into her San Francisco home early in the morning on Oct. 28, 2022. He found the former speaker of the House was not home, which he said was not part of his plan. He held Paul Pelosi hostage until police officers arrived, then bludgeoned him in the head with a hammer in front of them.

The attacker's lawyers admitted to the court that "It was not a very well-thought-out plan."

His lawyers also attempted to convince the court that DePape's actions were at least partly based on his belief in conspiracy theories and not on Nancy Pelosi's speakership position in Congress.

The reason for that argument is that it would alter the type of charge DePape was ultimately sentenced with.

The outlet added:

That’s a key distinction in considering both federal charges against DePape, which require that the suspect had the “intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere” with a federal official’s duties or “on account of” those duties.

Case closed

Ultimately, it didn't matter because a jury quickly found DePape guilty of the aforementioned charges, and he now faces up to 50 years in prison.

"People can believe what they want and engage in passionate debate. But this guilty verdict on all counts sends a clear message that regardless of what your beliefs are, what you cannot do is physically attack a member of Congress or their immediate family for the performance of their job," said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey.

A DOJ statement on the case read, "Judge Corley scheduled a status conference for December 13, 2022, at 10 a.m. The assault charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and the attempted kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison."

Only time will tell if they make an example out of him.