Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing on Sept. 4, 2018 in Washington. Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy,who retired from the Supreme Court in July. Xxx Sd Kavanaugh Confirmation 1040 Jpg Usa Dc
California – A California man accused of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is preparing to plead guilty, his attorneys confirmed Wednesday. The plea comes nearly two years after Nicholas Roske, then 26, was arrested near Kavanaugh’s Maryland home, armed and allegedly intent on carrying out the attack.
Roske’s legal team submitted a letter to the judge stating their client intends to enter a guilty plea next week to the single charge of attempting to assassinate a justice. He had been scheduled to go to trial in June. If the plea is accepted, Roske could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to authorities, Roske flew from California to Maryland in June 2022, dressed in all black and carrying a handgun, knife, and zip ties. Upon arriving at Kavanaugh’s home via taxi late at night, he saw the justice’s security detail and reconsidered his plan. Court documents indicate that he then called his sister, who convinced him to dial 911 and turn himself in.
When police arrested Roske, he reportedly told investigators that his motivations stemmed from the Supreme Court’s leaked draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade and its potential expansion of gun rights. He claimed that he had long struggled with suicidal thoughts and that the draft decision pushed him toward the drastic action.
“I’ve been suicidal for a long time,” Roske told authorities during an interrogation, according to a transcript of the interview. “And when I saw that leaked draft, it made me upset and then it made me want to—I don’t know… I was under the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing him.”
The arrest heightened concerns about the safety of Supreme Court justices, particularly amid increasing political tensions following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned federal abortion protections. In response, lawmakers introduced legislation to strengthen security measures for justices and their families.
Roske’s attorneys have argued that he was in severe mental distress at the time of his arrest. Court filings describe him as “acutely suicidal, visibly exhausted, and repeatedly expressing his need for psychiatric care.” His plea deal suggests an effort to avoid a lengthy trial while acknowledging his mental health struggles.
If convicted under his guilty plea, Roske could spend the rest of his life in prison. The case has sparked intense debate over the security of public officials and the impact of political rhetoric on acts of violence.
