We got a huge update on a high-profile case involving the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

So, here’s the situation: A federal judge is going to reopen the sentencing hearing for David DePape. DePape is the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home and attacked her husband with a hammer. This decision comes after Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley realized she made an error. The judge did not allow DePape to speak during his court appearance last week, which is required by law.

Last Friday, Judge Corley sentenced DePape to 20 years for attempting to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and 30 years for assaulting Paul Pelosi. These sentences are to run simultaneously. DePape has also been given credit for the 18 months he has already spent in custody.

However, following the sentencing, Corley acknowledged in a court filing that it was a “clear error” not to ask DePape if he wanted to make a statement before sentencing him. As a result, she has scheduled a new hearing for May 28 to correct this mistake.

Interestingly, neither the prosecutors nor DePape’s defense attorneys pointed out this oversight during Friday’s hearing. Corley admitted it was her responsibility to ask DePape if he wanted to speak. Despite this, DePape’s defense team is opposed to bringing him back to court, as noted in the prosecutor’s filing.

After the sentencing on Friday, DePape’s defense attorneys quickly appealed the verdict. Judge Corley has given them until Wednesday to respond to her order to reopen the sentencing hearing.

Now, let’s rewind a bit. DePape, who is 44 years old, was found guilty by a jury last November of attempting to kidnap a federal official and assaulting the immediate family member of a federal official. Prosecutors had initially asked for a 40-year prison term.

The attack on Paul Pelosi happened just days before the 2022 midterm elections and was captured on police body camera footage. Paul Pelosi, who was 82 at the time, suffered severe injuries, including a skull fracture that required plates and screws to mend. His right arm and hand were also hurt in the attack.

During the sentencing, one of DePape’s attorneys, Angela Chuang, asked the judge to consider the prison terms given to those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. She argued that the sentences for the most serious offenses in that case ranged from 15 to 22 years. However, Judge Corley stated that the January 6 comparison did not reflect the severity of breaking into an elected official’s private home. She expressed concern that this kind of attack could discourage people from seeking public office in the future. Corley also mentioned that she believes DePape still poses a danger to society, noting that there is no indication he wouldn’t act on his beliefs again if given the chance.

DePape admitted during the trial that he broke into the Pelosi home with the intent to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and force her to admit to corruption. He said that if she lied, he planned to break her kneecaps. Fortunately, Nancy Pelosi was not home at the time of the attack.

When police arrived, DePape admitted to hitting Paul Pelosi with a hammer. He claimed his plan to expose what he believed was government corruption was falling apart.

🚨BREAKING: Bodycam footage of Paul Pelosi attack released pic.twitter.com/zwcawl5WGN

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 27, 2023