OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
California law enforcement has finally released the mugshot of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, from his DUI arrest last month.
“Police release booking photo of Speaker Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi from late May after he was arrested for DUI,” Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram wrote on Twitter. “Napa County says decision to release or withhold mugshots is up to police. Not DA.”
“Mr. Pelosi received the same treatment under that policy that all individuals released from County Jail receive,” Napa County law enforcement officials said. “No state law specifically requires the release of booking photos or mugshots, but policies regarding this topic can vary by jurisdiction.”
A) From colleague Michael Lundin. Police release booking photo of Spkr Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi from late May after he was arrested for DUI. Napa County says decision to release or withhold mugshots is up to police. Not DA. pic.twitter.com/xK3zr4UqZY
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) June 13, 2022
Last week, it was reported that a California district attorney was refusing to release police body cam showing the arrest of Paul Pelosi.
The Napa County District Attorney’s Office claimed that releasing the footage of Paul Pelosi’s May 29 arrest by the California Highway Patrol for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol would “jeopardize” an ongoing investigation.
“The Public Records Unit (PRU) has determined the Department possesses records responsive to your request,” CHP told Fox News Digital in a letter in a response to a California Public Records Act request filed last week.
“However, the Napa County District Attorney’s Office has advised the release of records would jeopardize an ongoing investigation. As such, records are being withheld pursuant to Government Code section 6254 (f).”
Following Pelosi’s arrest, no decision has been made on whether he will face criminal charges. Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Thursday that he has agreed to a court date of Aug. 3 at 8:30 a.m. in Napa County Superior Court. If criminal charges are filed, he will be arraigned at that time, Fox News reported.
“The case is currently under review to decide what, if any, charges will be filed against Mr. Pelosi,” Haley announced. “This is standard protocol for any DUI case that is referred by a law enforcement agency in Napa County.”
“No decision has been made at this time,” Haley said added. “Any speculation to the contrary is incorrect. When a filing decision is made by the Napa County district attorney, the media and public will be notified.”
Pelosi’s attorney released a statement following his late May arrest.
“Several news reports about Saturday night’s traffic incident involving Paul Pelosi have included incorrect information,” the attorney said. “Mr. Pelosi was attending a dinner party at the home of friends near Oakville.”
“He left that party at 10:15 PM Saturday, to drive to his home a short distance away. He was alone in his car,” the statement continued. “After stopping at the intersection of Walnut Drive and Highway 29, and proceeding across Highway 29 to Oakville Cross Road, his car was hit on the back fender by a Jeep heading southbound on Highway 29.”
The attorney claimed that Paul Pelosi was “fully cooperative with California Highway Patrol officers” and that “a prior driving offense erroneously attributed to Mr. Pelosi is untrue and likely refers to another person with the same name.”
“There are also incorrect reports that misstate the timing of events,” the statement concluded. “Mr. Pelosi left the dinner party at 10:15 PM Saturday. The incident happened a few minutes later.”
Nancy Pelosi’s office released a statement saying the 80-year-old California lawmaker would not be commenting on the alleged crime.
“The Speaker will not be commenting on this private matter which occurred while she was on the East Coast,” spokesman Drew Hammill said in a statement.
