A California man pleaded guilty to attempting to kill U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh outside his Chevy Chase home in 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, admitted he flew from Los Angeles to Dulles International Airport on June 7, 2022, with a firearm and ammunition in his checked luggage, according to a press release.
He then took a taxi to Kavanaugh’s neighborhood with the intent to kill the justice, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
At the time, Kavanaugh had served nearly four years as an associate justice.
Around 1:05 a.m. the next day, two deputy U.S. Marshals saw Roske exit a cab outside the justice’s home, dressed in black and carrying a backpack and suitcase.
As the marshals approached, Roske walked away and called 911, telling a dispatcher he was armed and had traveled from California intending to kill “a specific Supreme Court Justice.”
Montgomery County police (MCPD) arrested him shortly after.
A search of his bags revealed a handgun, ammunition, tactical gear, zip ties, a crowbar, and other weapons and tools.
Roske told investigators he was upset over a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion and the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
He admitted he intended to use the weapons and tools to kill Kavanaugh.
“This calculated attempt on the life of a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice was a heinous attack on the Court itself,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a press release. “Anyone who thinks they can use violence or intimidation to influence our courts will be met with the full force of the law and face up to life in prison.”
FBI Director Kash Patel expressed similar concerns in a press release, saying, “No violent attacks can be tolerated, whether those targeted are public officials or private citizens.”
Other federal officials praised the coordination between agencies.
“The FBI’s partnerships with the Montgomery County Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and Supreme Court Police were critical in bringing Roske to justice,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno in a press release.
Roske faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3
