**David DePape Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attack on Paul Pelosi**

In a landmark decision on Tuesday, a California judge sentenced David DePape to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his violent home invasion and assault on Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. DePape, who had already received a 30-year federal sentence for related charges, was found guilty by a San Francisco jury in June of multiple felonies, including aggravated kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and false imprisonment.

San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman expressed his firm intention that DePape, 44, will spend the rest of his life incarcerated. "It's my intention that Mr. DePape will never get out of prison, he can never be paroled," Dorfman stated during the sentencing. Despite the gravity of his crimes, DePape used his court appearance to promote various conspiracy theories, claiming psychic abilities that he said increased with meditation.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins underscored the significance of the sentencing, highlighting the public consensus and the broader implications for democratic principles. "Mr. DePape has been convicted of crimes both federally and locally reflecting the public's unanimous condemnation," she said. "Recognizing the seriousness of his crimes and the danger to democracy that Mr. DePape posed, he is now being held accountable and will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole."

Prosecutors revealed that DePape had long been immersed in far-right conspiracy theories, questioning the 2020 election results and alleging that the federal government was controlled by devil-worshipping pedophiles. On October 28, 2022, DePape broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco home demanding to know Nancy Pelosi's whereabouts. Paul Pelosi, 84, managed to call 911 during the break-in, and the brutal attack that ensued was captured on police body cameras. When officers arrived, they witnessed DePape and Pelosi grappling for control of a hammer, which DePape ultimately used to strike Pelosi in the head.

The sentencing concludes a high-profile case that has drawn national attention, emphasizing the ongoing threats to public figures and the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions.