Not Guilty: Split Senate acquits Trump of impeachment. Nancy Pelosi’s violation, U.S. Code prohibits the destruction of government record, Nancy Pelosi may have just committed a violation of 18 U.S.C. 2071, section 2071(a) when she ripped up President Trump’s State of the Union address. This violation is punishable by up to three years in prison. Even though no serious legal experts believe Nancy Pelosi will face criminal charges for ripping up pieces of paper, also she could be removed from office for her actions.