Paul Pelosi, husband of US congresswoman and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge following an incident in early July where he allegedly crashed into a parked vehicle and left the scene, the Napa county district attorney announced on Friday, July 18, 2026.

Authorities reported that no passengers were in the struck vehicle, but it sustained "major" damage. Pelosi, 86, was also charged with an infraction for making an unlawful turn related to the July 3 incident in Yountville, California.

A spokesperson for the Pelosi family stated that Paul Pelosi apologized to the owner of the damaged vehicle and is assuming responsibility for the damage. A representative for Pelosi was not immediately available for further comment.

Public records show Pelosi has a history of traffic infractions in California dating back at least to 2011, including citations for failing to stop at a red light, a stop sign violation, and driving to the left of double yellow lines. In 2022, Pelosi pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges after a crash in Napa county. At that time, California highway patrol officers noted that Pelosi’s speech was slurred and detected a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage," according to the Associated Press.

However, the Napa county district attorney’s office said Pelosi is not being charged with a DUI in the current case because no evidence indicates he was impaired. The office emphasized its ethical obligation to file only charges that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt based on available evidence.

Sources