DOJ seeks 40-year sentence for Paul Pelosi hammer attacker David DePape under 'terrorism enhancement'

Federal prosecutors requested a 40-year-sentence for David DePape, the man convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer, under a terrorism enhancement.

"The nature and circumstances of the offense warrant statutory maximums on each count. The core of both crimes – the attempted kidnapping of a public official and the assault on the family member of a public official – is violence aimed at punishing the former Speaker of the House of Representatives," U.S. attorney Ismail Ramsey wrote. "Both crimes are an assault on our democracy and fundamental values." "The jury rejected the defendant’s contentions that he was motivated by something other than the Speaker Emerita’s official position, but even taking his own statements as true for a moment, the defendant claimed that he went to the Pelosi’s home to inflict violence on the Speaker Emerita," Ramsey continued. "He wanted to teach a lesson. The violent lessons that the defendant wanted to teach are not permitted in this country, and the sentence that this Court imposes must reflect the nature and circumstances of the offense."  Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 

DePape was convicted last year of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. He is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.