Inside Paul Pelosi’s controversies from DUI arrest and fatal crash that killed his brother to multi-million stock trades
IN 2007 a newspaper article noted how Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul had "taken care to avoid causing controversy".
The successful venture capitalist - who wed the Speaker of the House nearly 60 years ago - had "stayed in the shadows" and "helped fuel the political career" of his wife, according to The San Francisco Gate.
Paul had himself told the paper in 2004: "I’ve made a conscious effort to not be involved or give the appearance of being involved in her political career
"People should realize that she’s the one.”
But all that came crashing down this week after it emerged had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The 82-year-old was taken into custody shortly before midnight Saturday in Napa County.
And since news of his weekend arrest broke, a spotlight has been shone on his past, from a fatal crash that killed his brother to his controversial multi-million stock trades.
Here The Sun takes an in-depth look at into the millionaire's past and his life with his famous wife.
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Paul - who is worth an estimated $135 million - married Democrat Nancy, nee D'Alesandro, in 1963.
The couple have gone onto to have five children.
Their wedding came six years after the fatal accident involving Paul's brother.
Paul Pelosi was 16 years old when he picked up his older brother David, 19, to go for a "joy ride" in sports car in February of 1957, according to reports at the time.
Shortly after midnight, Paul came up to a tight curve near the Crystal Springs Dam on the Skyline Highway.
He is said to have lost control of the car while trying to shift gears to slow down.
Paul - who was able to escape and get help - had broken his collar bone.
He was cited for misdemeanor manslaughter but was exonerated by a coroner's jury.
The jury also recommended that signs warning of sharp curves be placed on that road.
And just last year Paul was in the headlines again, this time after buying up stocks in Alphabet, Disney and Salesforce.
There is no suggestion that Nancy every traded stock.
That came after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it was "ludicrous" politicians could trade individual stock.
Nancy defended lawmakers being able to make stock trades while in office, saying: "We're a free market economy. They [lawmakers] should be able to participate in that."
Her spokesperson Drew Hammill told DailyMail.com at the time of her husband's trading: "The Speaker has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions.
"The STOCK Act exists to shine a bright light on trades by Members of Congress. Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
But Walter Shaub, director of the U.S. Office of Government and Ethics under President Obama, said of Nancy's comments: "GOOD GRIEF! NO! She's wrong. She is 100% wrong.
"Nobody put a gun to anyone's head and said "you must be a member of Congress."
"Want to trade stocks? Do it. Want to be a member of Congress? Do it. But you have NO BUSINESS doing both!
"This is the opposite of government ethics."
Paul owns and operates Financial Leasing Services Inc, which is a San Francisco-based real estate and consulting firm.
His weekend arrest came after the Porsche he was driving was hit by another vehicle in Northern California’s wine country, authorities said.
He was taken into custody shortly before midnight Saturday in Napa County, according to a sheriff’s office online booking report.
He was driving a 2021 Porsche into an intersection near the town of Yountville and was hit by a 2014 Jeep, the California Highway Patrol said in a statement late Sunday.
No injuries were reported, and the 48-year-old driver of the Jeep was not arrested.
Pelosi could face misdemeanor charges including driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 or higher, the police booking report said.
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He was released early Sunday on $5,000 bail, records showed.
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Hammill told The Associated Press on Sunday: “The Speaker will not be commenting on this private matter which occurred while she was on the East Coast.”
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