A man previously convicted in federal court for violently attacking House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, has now been found guilty of five charges in state court in California.
The California jury convicted the man of first-degree burglary, false imprisonment, threatening a family member of a public official, aggravated kidnapping, and preventing or dissuading a witness by force or threat. This verdict adds to the 30-year sentence he is already serving from his previous conviction related to the October 22 attack.
During the court proceedings, the man, who showed no visible reaction upon hearing the verdict, intends to appeal the case as confirmed by his lawyer.
Prior to the trial, three charges including attempted murder, assault of an elder, and assault with a deadly weapon were dismissed by the judge due to concerns of double jeopardy, as the man had already been convicted in federal court for assault on a federal official's family member and attempted kidnapping of a federal official in connection with the same incident.
The defense attorney mentioned that the man has been living an isolated and lonely life, influenced by conspiracy theories and struggling with mental illness.
Following the verdict, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi expressed gratitude for the support received by the family and stated that they would refrain from further comments until the sentencing is completed.
Notably, the man's ex-wife was escorted out of the courtroom before the jury deliberation began, and she was subsequently excluded from the courtroom premises for attempting to tamper with jury members. Graffiti promoting conspiracy theories from a website associated with her was discovered in a women’s bathroom near the courtroom.
As the sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled, the case continues to draw attention and raise concerns about the impact of conspiracy theories and mental health issues on individuals involved in criminal activities.
