My affair with Paul Pelosi's attacker: Famous nudist Gypsy Taub says David DePape was obsessed with conspiracy theories

As David DePape learns his fate for brutally attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, his former partner is speaking out. 

Nudist Gypsy Taub - who was in a relationship with DePape for 14 years - said DePape has struggled with mental health issues that stemmed from years of sexual and physical abuse he suffered as a child. 

She says he was never violent throughout their romance, but became possessed by Pelosi conspiracy theories. 

David DePape admitted to breaking into the Pelosis' San Francisco residence with the intention of getting the senior Democrat to acknowledge her party's 'lies' on pain of smashing her kneecaps. She was not home at the time

Gypsy Taub, DePape's former partner, said he suffered from years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse

'He was deeply depressed and there is no doubt in my mind that his mental health issues were a result of his trauma,' Taub said to DailyMail.com. 

'He had very deep depression all the time and was terrified of people.

'He was paranoid and thought he was Jesus. He wrote about these things on his blog. He needs help, not prison.'

'I met David when he was 21, but whatever problems he had came from his childhood abuse. 

Gypsy Taub, who is a well-known Bay Area nudist activist, said she met DePape when he was in his 20s and she was in her 30s. The two have three children together

'He was prostituted, abused, tortured - and he has admitted that this sexual abuse tortured him.'

Taub added she never knew DePape to be violent. The two share three kids together, but had been separated for years.

DePape's family members, including his twin sister, wrote to the judge asking for leniency.

David DePape cried in federal court as he testified about the October 2022 incident 

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was not at home when DePape broke into her San Francisco mansion

While Taub said DePape had a 'deeply troubled childhood,' his family claimed otherwise

His sister, Joanne Robinson, said they had an 'absolutely amazing childhood' and her younger twin brother - by five minutes - had always been 'calm-natured'. 

When her brother met Taub, the popular nudist was pregnant and in her 30s.

'He was in a partner situation with Gypsy for many years and was not allowed to make contact with his family,' Robinson wrote to the judge. 'If he did, he was yelled at for hours, kicked out of the house.

'It was such drama and battle that it was just was easier if David just shut us out of his life and focused on being there for his own children.'

Robinson said since her brother has been in jail, he has started talking to his family again and is staying away from 'the negative influences of Gypsy.'

Taub denied the allegations and said she is concerned DePape could sink deeper into depression if untreated.

Paul Pelosi, 84, managed to call 911 before DePape hit his head with a hammer. He continues to have health issues since the attack

'I disagree with them because the first issue is he is very mentally ill,' Taub said.

'None of them are talking about the truth of what happened that day [of the attack] and what he has been through. No one is telling his truth.'

DePape, a former nudist from Canada, attacked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband on October 28, 2022 after he broke into the their posh San Francisco mansion.

The shocking attack - caught on police body camera video footage - left then 82-year-old Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull.

During his federal trial, DePape cried and testified he regretted injuring Pelosi, but added he reacted because his 'plan was ruined'. 

DePape said he was looking for Nancy Pelosi that night to ask her about Russiagate, but did not intend to hurt her husband.

Nancy Pelosi was not at the home during the attack. 

Taub told DailyMail.com suffered from severe PTSD and turned to his personal blog to discuss his fears and political concerns.

DePape posted crazed COVID conspiracy theories, racist slurs and a manifesto that contained antigovernment beliefs.

Prosecutors have asked for a 40-year sentence for DePape and said he has not shown any remorse for severely injuring Pelosi. They also argued the sentence should include a terrorism enhancement. 

 DePape's federal public defenders asked the court for a more lenient 14-year sentence and argued their client was in a 'abusive, long-terms relationship with a partner who exploited his innate vulnerabilities and immersed him in a world of extreme beliefs where reality is not reality.'

Although she was not mentioned by name by DePape's public defenders, Taub denied the allegations that she manipulated him. She instead blames the alleged abuse DePape suffered when he was younger.