A transgender would-be assassin from California was sentenced for attempted murder of a Supreme Court Justice.
Nicholas John Roske, who identifies as a transgender woman going by Sophie Roske, was sentenced to just over eight years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh over a leaked opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.
“This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “This Department of Justice condemns political violence and our prosecutors will ensure that this disturbed individual faces severe consequences for his deranged actions.”
The Department of Justice issued a memo asking for a sentence of 30 years. View that federal sentencing memo online.
Earlier this year, Nicholas John Roske, of Simi Valley, California, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill the U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
“Nicholas Roske sought to commit a despicable, premeditated attack on a Supreme Court Justice and today is another step toward accountability,” FBI Director Kash Patel said at the time of the plea. “No violent attacks can be tolerated, whether those targeted are public officials or private citizens – and the FBI and our partners will aggressively investigate and bring to justice all those who engage in such plots.”
Here’s a breakdown from the DOJ about the guilty plea in the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh:
As part of his guilty plea, Roske admitted that on June 7, 2022, he flew from Los Angeles International Airport to Dulles International Airport with a firearm and ammunition in his checked baggage. He then took a taxi from the airport to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intent to kill the Supreme Court Justice.
According to the criminal complaint and the Government’s factual allegations, on June 8, 2022, at approximately 1:05 a.m., two Deputy U.S. Marshals, protecting the residence of a Supreme Court Justice, observed Roske arrive in and get out of a taxi in front of the residence. Roske wore black clothing and had a backpack and suitcase. Upon observing Roske, the two Deputy U.S. Marshals started to get out of their vehicles as the defendant proceeded to walk down the street.
Shortly after, Roske told a Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center call taker that he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had a gun in his suitcase, and flew from California to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice.
Montgomery County Police Department officers responded to the location and took Roske into custody. A search of Roske’s suitcase and backpack revealed a firearm; black tactical chest rig and tactical knife; two magazines, each containing 10 rounds of ammunition; 17 additional rounds of ammunition; pepper spray; zip ties; a hammer; screwdrivers; a nail punch; a crowbar; a pistol light; duct tape; hiking boots with padding on the outside of the soles; and lock-pick tools, along with other items.
Law enforcement transported Roske to a Montgomery County Police Department station where he was read his Miranda rights. Roske then stated that he was upset about a recently leaked Supreme Court draft decision on abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The defendant also admitted that he came from California with the intent to use the firearm and burglary tools and to kill the Supreme Court Justice.
