California authorities are recommending criminal charges against Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, following a collision in the heart of the state’s wine country last week.
The 86-year-old is facing a potential misdemeanor charge tied to a hit-and-run incident that unfolded in Yountville on Friday afternoon.
Nancy Pelosi’s office has now weighed in publicly for the first time since news of the crash broke, confirming that her husband has already begun making amends.
A spokesperson for the family stated that Paul Pelosi contacted the owner of the damaged vehicle directly following the crash.
“Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle,” the spokesperson said.
The statement made clear that the Speaker herself would not be weighing in further on the matter.
“Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter,” the spokesperson added.
Sheriff’s deputies in Napa County were called to the scene after a bystander flagged down authorities, reporting that a car had slammed into the back of a parked vehicle.
The call came in around 2:30 p.m. Friday, with the collision taking place along a stretch of Yount Street.
According to investigators, the driver did not immediately flee — he stopped momentarily at the scene before ultimately continuing on without reporting the crash.
Deputies would later find the vehicle responsible for the crash on nearby Yountville Cross Road, where it had broken down and was obstructing the flow of traffic.
The brown convertible sustained enough damage from the collision that it became inoperable, forcing Pelosi to stop driving altogether.
When deputies caught up with him, Pelosi reportedly conceded that he had struck something during his drive but insisted he did not know what it was.
He allegedly continued operating the vehicle after the impact, stopping only once it was no longer drivable.
Authorities administered a preliminary breath test at the scene, which found no evidence that alcohol had contributed to the crash.
The test recorded a blood alcohol reading of exactly 0.00, according to sheriff’s officials.
Despite recommending a criminal charge, deputies did not place Pelosi under arrest immediately following the incident.
Officials explained that skipping an on-scene arrest is common protocol for misdemeanor-level cases like this one.
The investigation has since been passed along to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether to move forward with prosecution.
The specific charge being recommended by investigators is misdemeanor hit-and-run involving property damage, with no allegation of bodily injury.
Beyond the criminal referral, authorities also confirmed a separate action tied to Pelosi’s driving privileges.
A request has been submitted to the California DMV asking that Pelosi undergo a formal re-evaluation of his ability to safely operate a vehicle.
Sheriff’s officials noted that such referrals are frequently issued in cases involving elderly motorists, regardless of the outcome of any criminal case.
Friday’s crash marks the second time in recent years that Paul Pelosi has found himself under scrutiny from California law enforcement following an incident behind the wheel.
The Speaker’s husband was previously involved in a separate DUI case in the same general area roughly four years earlier.
No timeline has been provided by the District Attorney’s Office regarding when a final decision on charges will be made.
The Pelosi family’s brief statement stopped short of addressing whether Paul Pelosi intends to contest the recommended charge once it reaches prosecutors.
Local residents in Yountville, a town largely defined by its vineyards and tourism, witnessed the crash’s aftermath play out on a public roadway.
Nancy Pelosi’s office has not issued any statement beyond the brief remarks delivered through the family spokesperson.
As of now, the case remains under review, with Napa County prosecutors expected to decide in the coming weeks whether formal charges will be filed against Paul Pelosi.
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