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submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

The man who attacked the husband of former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

David DePape was convicted of assault and attempted kidnapping of a federal official in November after a week-long trial in San Francisco.

The attack left Paul Pelosi, now 84, in hospital for six days with a fractured skull and other injuries.

...

Prosecutors, however, argued that DePape had a "plan of violence", noting that he told investigators he had a "target list" and plan to break Mrs Pelosi's kneecaps if she did not reveal "the truth". At the time of his arrest, DePape had zip ties and duct tape.

...

In addition to the federal charges, DePape is facing separate state charges stemming from the attack. They include burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and attempted murder.

He faces life imprisonment if convicted of those charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

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[-] jballs@sh.itjust.works 58 points 4 months ago

DePape's court-appointed lawyer, Jodi Linker, argued that her client was motivated by right-wing conspiracy theories, which the defendant believed "with every ounce of his being".

Wtf that was his defense? "It's not my fault. I was freebasing Fox News at the time!"

[-] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago

I mean, she’s a public defender. He’s lucky she’s making any arguments at all. Most public defenders are so busy that they only have time to do the bare minimum “make sure all the paperwork is properly filed” effort. They don’t really have time to make long drawn out legal battles in court, because they have nine other cases to argue later that day. They also can’t lie in court because that’s an ethics violation. So she can’t just use the Shaggy “it wasn’t me” defense to try and convince a jury he didn’t do it.

If I had to take a guess, this argument is actually coming from him, and she’s basically making the argument to the best of her ability. I doubt a plea deal was offered, because they caught him red handed and it’s an extremely high profile case; The prosecutor is likely going to try and make an example out of him. So she likely didn’t have the opportunity to push him to take a plea deal. And she can’t mount a major legal battle. So this is her “fuck it, I guess we’ll ensure his legal rights are upheld” effort.

[-] NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I mean she's right too, the pipeline pushes the unstable to act violently against specific targets. There should be culpability for the propaganda factories that put this idea into this man's head.

Also Public Defenders are woefully underfunded, and prosecutors are over funded and in bed with the Police.

[-] Xanis@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I just want to remind everyone that public defenders are lawyers and that their skill levels and level of staffing-to-caseload will also vary. They tend to be labeled as pseudo-lawyers and shit like that, so I wished to stick my nose in with a now you know.

[-] barsquid@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

Insanity is pretty much the only defense they have if he's on video wielding a hammer.

[-] henfredemars@infosec.pub 38 points 4 months ago

Good, 30 years. Now do it to the other insurrectionist crazies.

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

My thoughts exactly. Actually if anything they should get 30 years and this guy seems more suitable to 10 imo but meh

[-] Empricorn@feddit.nl 3 points 4 months ago

Only 10 years for violently attempting to kill someone with a hammer!?

Assuming he's mentally fit to stand trial, that's "get caught with weed in a red state" time...

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

I knew someone would say something like this. There's a reason I'm not a judge.. I'm just saying if you're involved in a violent mob trying to overthrow the government, that seems worse to me

[-] Empricorn@feddit.nl 2 points 4 months ago

I like your honesty. I shouldn't be a judge either because I have strong opinions. But I'd like to remind everyone that the Jan 6 defendants were all charged and tried separately. Some attacked police and tried to hang the Vice President. Some occupied the Capitol and shouted their dissatisfaction with a false narrative. Both are illegal, but shouldn't be treated the same.

Where I think we'd agree is that most of the Jan 6th defendants received far, far too light sentences. Such mild slaps on the wrist that I'm unfortunately expecting more violence if Biden wins again...

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Yeah I'm with you. And it's true not every Jan 6 person was out for blood, which would exempt them from the wrath I was mentioning :)

[-] madcaesar@lemmy.world 29 points 4 months ago

The dude's fade oozes stupid & Trump supporter.

[-] Lemminary@lemmy.world 28 points 4 months ago

the trial shows DePape, a Canadian citizen who has lived in the US for two decades, breaking into the Pelosi home

He's Canadian?? I hate this timeline. Nothing makes sense anymore.

[-] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 30 points 4 months ago
[-] PseudorandomNoise@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago

The judge at Friday’s sentencing told the court that once he completes his prison sentence, DePape will be deported back to Canada by ICE immigration officials.

Good, I was gonna ask if were booting him out because we should.

[-] profdc9@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

How the tables have turned.

[-] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

I searched images of this dude to make sure I wasn't crazy or missing something about his hair (fade). Then it clicked, you meant face. I need a coffee.

[-] jaybone@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

lol you are not alone. I didn’t realize it meant face until I saw this comment.

[-] LanternEverywhere@kbin.social 2 points 4 months ago

Huh? I just looked up "fade" on urban dictionary and none of the top hits say ot means face.

[-] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Meant as in "meant to type" not "meant as in meaning". Like he had a typo. I was confused because there's no pic of him in the article and every image online shows him with long ass hair.

[-] madcaesar@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I was gonna fix the autocorrect, but I like they mayhem it's caused 😁

[-] LanternEverywhere@kbin.social 1 points 4 months ago

Oh i gotcha now, yeah that that's plausible

[-] fubarx@lemmy.ml 22 points 4 months ago

For those thinking that's not enough. That's federal. He still has to be sentenced in California state court. Could end up with an even longer sentence.

[-] jaybone@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

Yeah I was happy to read that in case Trump tries to pardon the guy.

[-] barsquid@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

It actually seemed longer than usual to me, I guess that is what happens when you attack your betters on the other tier of the "justice" system tho.

[-] PseudorandomNoise@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Article says he’s to be deported after his sentence though.

[-] force@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I saw your comment and was surprised to learn that the attacker is an illegal immigrant from Canada that overstayed his tourist visa for 20 years. Huh. I guess that technically means his "illegals are a danger to national security" beliefs are based on personal experience?

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 2 points 4 months ago

They were going to deport him any day now.

[-] Kowowow@lemmy.ca 14 points 4 months ago

“Two men in their underwear with hammers, you do the math” alex jones

Not sure about that math

[-] Stamau123@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago

Alex Jones apparently fucks hammers, you heard it here first folks

[-] Malcolm@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Hammer fucking.

[-] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

Weaponized disinformation is doing terrible things to conservatives.

Like I always thought they were crazy but they're really crazy now.

[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

trump didn't commit this attempted murder in the same way that charles manson didn't kill Sharon Tate.

[-] Coreidan@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Sucks to suck

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago
this post was submitted on 18 May 2024
265 points (100.0% liked)

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