Calif. Man Admits Guilt In Kavanaugh Assassination Plot

United States Supreme Court building with American flag

A California man has agreed to plead guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, an act that could land him in prison for life after he traveled across the country armed with weapons and a plan.

Key Takeaways

Nicholas Roske, 26, from Simi Valley, California, will plead guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022.
Roske traveled to Kavanaugh’s Maryland home with weapons including a revolver, knife, and zip ties but called 911 on himself before carrying out the plan.
His actions were motivated by anger over the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and concerns about gun control following the Uvalde school shooting.
The attempted assassination carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release.
A hearing is scheduled for April 7 or 8 in Greenbelt, Maryland, for Roske to formally enter his guilty plea.

California Man Admits Plot to Kill Justice Kavanaugh

Nicholas Roske’s attorneys have officially informed the court of his intention to plead guilty to the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In a letter to Judge Deborah Bordman, public defenders Andrew Szekely and Ellie Marranzini stated their client’s decision to admit guilt to the one-count indictment. Roske, who was 26 at the time of his June 2022 arrest, traveled from Simi Valley, California, to Kavanaugh’s Maryland residence with the explicit purpose of killing the justice.

According to court records, Roske arrived outside Kavanaugh’s home dressed in black and armed with a tactical knife, a Glock 17 pistol with two magazines, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crowbar, and duct tape. The arsenal demonstrated clear premeditation and intent to carry out the assassination. However, upon reaching the justice’s neighborhood, Roske had a change of heart, called his sister, and then dialed 911 to report himself to authorities.

California man to plead guilty to attempted assassination of Justice Kavanaugh https://t.co/JNjMRNU9sI

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Political Motivations Behind the Assassination Attempt

During interviews with law enforcement, Roske admitted that his actions were politically motivated. He cited the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that signaled the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a primary factor in his decision to target Kavanaugh. Additionally, Roske expressed concern about the justice’s potential rulings on gun control legislation following the Uvalde, Texas school shooting that had occurred just weeks before his assassination attempt.

“We write to inform the Court that Mr. Roske wishes to plead guilty to the one-count Indictment pending against him,” said Roske’s public defenders, Andrew Szekely and Ellie Marranzini.

Roske told investigators he believed killing a Supreme Court justice would change the court’s decisions for decades to come. He also admitted to authorities that he was experiencing both suicidal and homicidal thoughts and intended “to act on them” with the goal to “make the world a better place.” The case highlights the dangerous intersection of mental health issues and political extremism that continues to plague the nation.

Legal Consequences and Next Steps

Roske’s decision to plead guilty comes without a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, according to court filings. His formal plea hearing is scheduled for early April in Greenbelt, Maryland. The charge of attempted assassination of a Supreme Court Justice carries severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and lifetime supervised release after incarceration.

“life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and lifetime supervised release,” according to the petition.

The case gained national attention in the summer of 2022 amid heightened political tensions surrounding the Supreme Court’s pending decision on abortion rights. President Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting the judiciary from political violence and ensuring the safety of all Supreme Court justices regardless of their judicial philosophy. The incident led to increased security measures for Supreme Court justices and renewed debate about the protection of public officials in an era of increasing political polarization.