Paul Pelosi is facing a misdemeanor charge over a low-speed collision in Napa County, the wine-country community where he and his wife have long kept a home.
The charge
Napa County prosecutors have charged Pelosi, 86, with a misdemeanor count of hit-and-run, along with an infraction for making an unlawful turn, CNN reported. Authorities say that on July 3, in the town of Yountville, Pelosi struck a parked and unoccupied vehicle and then left the scene. Under California law, drivers involved in a crash that damages property are required to stop and leave their information.
No one was hurt in the collision, according to The Press Democrat, and the car Pelosi is accused of hitting was empty. He was not arrested, which authorities have described as standard for an offense of this kind, and he is scheduled to appear in Napa County Superior Court on Aug. 14.
The family's response
A spokesperson for the Pelosi family said Paul Pelosi "personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle," according to CNN. The family did not otherwise contest the account.
Context
The case is not Pelosi's first traffic matter in the area. In May 2023, he was arrested after a crash in Yountville and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, receiving a short jail sentence and probation. There is no indication of alcohol in the current case; the charge stems from leaving the scene, not impairment.
The matter is a minor one in legal terms, a misdemeanor and an infraction arising from a fender-bender with no injuries. It draws attention chiefly because of who is involved. Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, led House Democrats for two decades and remains one of the most prominent figures in American politics. For now, the case will proceed as any other of its kind, toward a routine court date next month.
