Paul Pelosi, the 86-year-old husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing a potential misdemeanor charge after striking a parked vehicle in Yountville, California on Friday and leaving the scene, authorities said Saturday.
The brown convertible Pelosi was driving collided with a legally parked car on the roadside, causing what officials described as major damage. A witness to the crash called 911, and sheriff's deputies located Pelosi roughly a quarter mile away with visible damage to the front of his vehicle.
According to the Napa County Sheriff's Office, Pelosi told officers he knew he had hit something but was uncertain of the timing or cause. No injuries were reported from the collision. A breath test showed no alcohol in his system.
Because no one was injured, the sheriff's office recommended a misdemeanor charge for fleeing the accident scene. Pelosi was not arrested. Authorities also referred him to the Department of Motor Vehicles for an evaluation to determine whether he should retain his driving privileges, a standard process for drivers his age.
A spokesperson for the Pelosis released a statement indicating that Paul had personally apologized to the vehicle owner and would cover the damage. Nancy Pelosi's office declined further comment on the matter, characterizing it as private.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of Pelosi's prior 2022 conviction. He had pleaded guilty that year to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges in Napa County and received a five-day jail sentence along with three years of probation. He ultimately served only two days in custody plus two days of good conduct credit, with one day completed through a courthouse work program. The conviction required him to complete a three-month alcohol education program, install an ignition interlock device in his vehicle, and pay approximately $5,000 in victim restitution plus nearly $2,000 in fines.
Nancy Pelosi, currently in her 20th congressional term representing San Francisco, announced last year that she would be retiring in early 2027.
Author James Rodriguez: "The pattern here is hard to ignore, and it raises serious questions about judgment and accountability at every level."
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