Determining David DePape's Conviction in the Paul Pelosi Hammer Assault

David DePape has been found guilty by a jury on two charges related to the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which occurred last year at their San Francisco residence. DePape has been convicted in federal court for one count of assaulting a family member of a federal official and a second count of attempting to kidnap a federal official. If sentenced, he could potentially face a maximum of 30 years and 20 years for each charge, respectively.

The jury's verdict came after impactful testimony from DePape in defense of himself and Pelosi, who publicly shared for the first time the night he was attacked with a hammer and the challenging recovery that followed.

The distressing attack in October 2022 sent shockwaves through Washington during a time when threats against public officials were on the rise. This incident also reignited concerns about violence fueled by hostile political rhetoric and partisan hostility. At the time, lawmakers in Congress reflected on their own safety, as fears of political violence remained heightened following the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and other recent incidents targeting members of Congress. Ultimately, the attack played a role in Nancy Pelosi's decision to step down from her leadership position as House Speaker.

Prosecutors allege that DePape unlawfully entered the Pelosis' residence, intending to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and hold her captive. DePape's lawyer, Jodi Linker, admitted on the trial's first day that her client was responsible for attacking Paul Pelosi, who is 83 years old. However, Linker contended that the motive behind the assault did not align with the charges leveled against DePape. She argued before the jury that the case hinges on the "why" - whether David acted out of Nancy Pelosis' congressional duties. According to Linker, he did not. She claimed that DePape struck Paul Pelosi in a moment of despair when the police arrived and disrupted his larger plan.

During his testimony on Tuesday, DePape provided jurors with a deeper understanding of his motives prior to the attack, occasionally becoming emotional as he shared instances of conspiracy theories that he believed were accurate.

DePape specifically mentioned his focus on Nancy Pelosi, stating that her husband, Paul, was not included in his list of targets. He expressed feeling "surprised and confused" upon discovering that the congresswoman was not present at home.

DePape told Paul Pelosi that he had other targets but threatened to go through him if he tried to stop him. He then confessed to hitting Pelosi in the head, as his plan had been ruined. During his testimony, Pelosi recalled waking up to find a man with a hammer in his house. The man, later identified as DePape, inquired about Pelosi's wife, to which Pelosi replied that she was in Washington and not present.

After a confrontation with DePape, Pelosi regained consciousness in a pool of blood, having been forcefully struck on the head. Pelosi, who had to undergo surgery to treat a fractured skull, as well as injuries to his hand and arm, informed the jurors about the challenging nature of his recovery, which has been marked by dizziness and headaches. "I have exerted my utmost to avoid reminiscing about this," he stated.

The trial, which commenced last week, further included testimonies from San Francisco police officers, FBI agents, and United States Capitol Police.

A separate state case against DePape, involving charges of attempted murder, burglary, and assault, is scheduled for trial later this month. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

CNNs Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Jack Forrest, Paul LeBlanc and Veronica Miracle contributed to this report.