Opening statements are set to begin on Thursday, November 9th, in the federal trial of David DePape, who is charged with the October 2022 hammer attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, in their San Francisco home. The 43-year-old has pleaded not guilty and has been in custody since his arrest. DePape's attorneys had attempted to have the trial moved from San Francisco, arguing that extensive media coverage had tainted the potential jury pool, but their request was denied by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. Jury selection began on Monday, November 6th. Paul Pelosi, who suffered a fractured skull and other injuries in the attack, is expected to testify, along with a protected witness known as "Target 1."

David DePape is a resident of Richmond, a small city near Berkeley in California's Bay Area. At the time of the attack, he was living in a garage. During a search of his home, authorities discovered two hammers, a sword, and a pair of rubber and cloth gloves, as well as paperwork from the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the IRS, and PayPal credit cards. DePape, who is a Canadian citizen, may have been in the country illegally, and the Department of Homeland Security reportedly issued a detainer after his arrest.

DePape has been charged with two federal felonies: attempted kidnapping of a federal officer or employee, and assault of an immediate family member of a federal official. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison on the first charge and 30 years on the second. He also faces separate state charges, including attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and threats to a public official, which carry potential penalties of over 13 years to life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges as well.

The attack on Paul Pelosi occurred in the early hours of October 28th, 2022. Paul called 911, reporting that an unknown man had broken into their home and was looking for his wife. According to court documents, DePape admitted to breaking into the home through a glass back patio door and entering Paul's bedroom, demanding to speak to Nancy. When Paul informed him that Nancy was not there, DePape said he would wait for her. Paul was able to call 911 from the bathroom, and when the police arrived a few minutes later, they found both DePape and Paul holding hammers, with DePape gripping Paul's arm. Bodycam footage shows the police asking them to drop the hammers, with DePape eventually pulling it away from Paul and striking him in the head. Paul was rendered unconscious, and the police restrained DePape. DePape later told the police that he intended to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and threatened to break her kneecaps if she lied, using her as leverage to lure another individual, referred to as "Target 1." Police found a roll of tape, white rope, gloves, and a journal in DePape's backpack at the scene, as well as zip ties in Paul's bedroom.

David DePape had expressed various conspiracy theories online, including those related to voter fraud, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also posted antisemitic rants and defended former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. His posts referenced the QAnon conspiracy theory and included memes about the January 6th Capitol attack. Relatives described DePape as being "out of touch with reality" and estranged from reality. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins addressed misinformation circulating about the incident, including a baseless claim made by billionaire Elon Musk, which he later deleted. Jenkins emphasized the need for respect for what the Pelosi family had endured and the long recovery process for Paul.

A judge allowed the release of various evidence to the public, including body-worn camera footage from the police officers, audio of Paul's 911 call, and a portion of an interview with DePape. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office and DePape's attorney had initially opposed the release, citing concerns about misinformation and its impact on a fair trial.

Nancy Pelosi has spoken about the attack on her husband, expressing uncertainty about watching the graphic video footage. She has emphasized the importance of voting and has described her husband's recovery as a long process. Paul Pelosi was released from the hospital a week after the attack and has been slowly recovering.

The trial of David DePape is expected to shed light on the influence of conspiracy theories and online misinformation in inciting political violence. Experts have noted that individuals who commit such acts often struggle with mental health issues or personal crises and are influenced by a combination of factors. DePape had reportedly identified other potential targets, including a women's and queer studies professor, California Governor Gavin Newsom, actor Tom Hanks, and President Joe Biden's son, Hunter.