Latest news with #Roske
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California man angry about abortion, gun rights cases pleads guilty to trying to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh
A California man angry about abortion and gun rights cases pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempting to kill U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his Maryland home, the Justice Department said. Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, admitted to flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2022 with a firearm and ammunition in his suitcase in an effort to target the high court justice, federal prosecutors said. "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. "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." After arriving in Washington, Roske took a taxi in the middle of the night to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intention of killing Kavanaugh, authorities said. Appeals Court Blocks Trump Admin's Deportation Flights In Alien Enemies Act Immigration Suit At around 1:05 a.m. on June 8, 2022, two Deputy U.S. Marshals protecting Kavanaugh's home saw Roske arrive in front of the residence. He was wearing black clothing and had a backpack and suitcase, prosecutors said. Read On The Fox News App The U.S. Marshals, who were in a vehicle, got out as Roske began to walk down the street. Shortly after, Roske called the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center saying he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had a gun in his suitcase, and flew from California to kill Kavanaugh. Judge Boasberg Poised To Hold Trump Admin In Contempt, Takes Down Names Of Dhs Officials: 'Pretty Sketchy' Local authorities arrived at the scene where they searched Roske's suitcase and found a firearm; black tactical chest rig and tactical knife; two magazines, each containing 10 rounds of ammunition; 17 additional rounds; 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. "The attempted assassination of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is an extreme, brazen act, one that we — along with our federal, local, and state law-enforcement partners — will not tolerate," said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. "It's through these partnerships that we're able to hold criminals accountable and uphold the rule of law." While being questioned by investigators, Roske said he was upset about a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers. "Roske indicated that he believed the Associate Justice that he intended to kill would side with Second Amendment decisions that would loosen gun control laws," prosecutors said in a court filing last week. Prosecutors said Roske used an encrypted platform to send messages suggesting he planned to kill three Supreme Court justices. "Im gonna stop roe v wade from being overturned," Roske allegedly said in the messages. "I could get at least one, which would change the votes for decades to come. and I am shooting for 3 ... at the end of the day biden still chooses the replacements. gop cant do s--- about it." Roske faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced on Oct. article source: California man angry about abortion, gun rights cases pleads guilty to trying to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
California man pleads guilty to trying to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh
A California man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, the Justice Department announced. Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, told law enforcement officers after his arrest on June 7, 2022, that he traveled from his home in the Los Angeles suburb to Maryland with the intent to kill Kavanaugh, a member of the court's conservative majority, and then himself, his lawyers said last week in a letter to a federal judge. Roske faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, the Justice Department said in a statement. Authorities said at the time that Roske was dismayed at expected Supreme Court opinions ending the national right to abortion and rolling back gun regulations. Authorities later recovered a Glock pistol, a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, and a crow bar from a pack he was carrying. "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 statement. "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." The incident happened about a month after a leaked draft opinion indicated the court was poised to overturn its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The court issued its final ruling weeks after Roske's arrest. Kavanaugh, a conservative jurist appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, has served on the court since 2018. Contributing: Kevin Johnson, Josh Meyer, and John Fritze USA TODAY; Reuters
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
California man charged in Justice Kavanaugh assassination attempt pleads guilty
California man charged in Justice Kavanaugh assassination attempt pleads guilty Show Caption Hide Caption SCOTUS considers Planned Parenthood defunding case amid protests Pro and anti-abortion protesters lined up outside the Supreme Court in Washington D.C., as the justices heard a Planned Parenthood defunding case. A California man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his Maryland home in 2022, the Justice Department announced. As part of the guilty plea, Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, admitted that he flew from Los Angeles to Dulles International Airport on June 7, 2022, with a firearm and ammunition in his checked baggage, according to the Justice Department news release. Roske, the release added, then took a taxi from the airport to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intent to kill Kavanaugh, a member of the court's conservative majority. According to a criminal complaint, two Deputy U.S. Marshals who protected Kavanaugh's Maryland home observed Roske arriving at the front of the residence on June 8, 2022, at about 1:05 a.m. Once they observed Roske, the Marshals exited their vehicles as Roske walked down the street. Shortly after, the complain adds, 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." Officers with the Montgomery County Police Department later responded to the location and arrested Roske. Roske faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3. Authorities said at the time that Roske was dismayed at expected Supreme Court opinions ending the national right to abortion and rolling back gun regulations. Authorities later recovered a Glock pistol, a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, and a crow bar from a pack he was carrying. "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 statement. "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 echoed Bondi's sentiments in the Tuesday statement, saying Roske's plans were "despicable." "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," Patel said. The incident happened about a month after a leaked draft opinion indicated the court was poised to overturn its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The court issued its final ruling weeks after Roske's arrest. Kavanaugh, a conservative jurist appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, has served on the court since 2018. Contributing: Kevin Johnson, Josh Meyer, and John Fritze, USA TODAY; Reuters
Fox News
09-04-2025
- Fox News
California man angry about abortion, gun rights cases, pleads guilty to trying to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh
A California man angry about abortion and gun rights cases pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempting to kill U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his Maryland home, the Justice Department said. Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, admitted to flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2022 with a firearm and ammunition in his suitcase in an effort to target the high court justice, federal prosecutors said. "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. "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." After arriving in Washington, Roske took a taxi in the middle of the night to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intention of killing Kavanaugh, authorities said. At around 1:05 a.m. on June 8, 2022, two Deputy U.S. Marshals protecting Kavanaugh's home saw Roske arrive in front of the residence. He was wearing black clothing and had a backpack and suitcase, prosecutors said. The U.S. Marshals, who were in a vehicle, got out as Roske began to walk down the street. Shortly after, Roske called the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center saying he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had a gun in his suitcase, and flew from California to kill Kavanaugh. Local authorities arrived at the scene where they searched Roske's suitcase and found a firearm; black tactical chest rig and tactical knife; two magazines, each containing 10 rounds of ammunition; 17 additional rounds; 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. "The attempted assassination of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is an extreme, brazen act, one that we — along with our federal, local, and state law-enforcement partners — will not tolerate," said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. "It's through these partnerships that we're able to hold criminals accountable and uphold the rule of law." While being questioned by investigators, Roske said he was upset about a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers. "Roske indicated that he believed the Associate Justice that he intended to kill would side with Second Amendment decisions that would loosen gun control laws," prosecutors said in a court filing last week. Prosecutors said Roske used an encrypted platform to send messages suggesting he planned to kill three Supreme Court justices. "Im gonna stop roe v wade from being overturned," Roske allegedly said in the messages. "I could get at least one, which would change the votes for decades to come. and I am shooting for 3 ... at the end of the day biden still chooses the replacements. gop cant do s--- about it." Roske faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced on Oct. 3.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Man pleads guilty to trying to kill Brett Kavanaugh at judge's home
A California man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to trying to kill Brett Kavanaugh at the US supreme court justice's home in a suburb of Washington DC nearly three years ago. Nicholas Roske was arrested near Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in June 2022. Roske was armed with a gun and a knife, was carrying zip ties and was dressed in black when he arrived in the neighborhood by taxi just after 1am, authorities said. US district judge Deborah Boardman is scheduled to sentence Roske on 3 October. Prosecutors say federal sentencing guidelines call for a term of 30 years to life in prison. Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a justice of the United States without reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. A trial for Roske had been scheduled to start on 9 June. After his arrest, Roske told a police detective that he was upset about a leaked draft opinion suggesting the supreme court intended to overrule Roe v Wade, the landmark abortion case, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. Killing one judge could change the decisions of the nine-member court 'for decades to come', Roske wrote over an encrypted messaging platform to another user in May 2022. Roske added: 'I am shooting for 3.' The leaked opinion draft led to protests at several of the justices' homes. Roske's arrest spurred the US House to approve a bill expanding around-the-clock security protection to the justices' families. Roske also said he was upset over the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, and believed that Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, the affidavit said. Roske was apprehended after he called 911 and told a police dispatcher that he was near Kavanaugh's home and was having suicidal and homicidal thoughts. He was spotted by two US marshals who were part of 24-hour security provided to the justices. During his plea hearing, Roske told the judge that he was being treated in jail for an unspecified mental illness. 'Are you thinking clearly?' the judge asked him. 'I believe so,' he said. In a court filing last Thursday, justice department prosecutors laid out Roske's planning for his trip to Kavanaugh's neighborhood. Roske searched the internet for justices' home addresses and other information, including techniques for breaking into homes and quietly killing somebody. He also wrote about killing judges in encrypted messages sent to another user, who isn't named in the filing. 'The thought of Roe v Wade and gay marriage both being repealed has me furious,' Roske wrote. In late May 2022, Roske bought tactical gear, a lock pick, black face paint, a glass cutter, a suction cup and other items that he took to Maryland. On 2 June 2 2022, Roske bought a Glock 9mm pistol from a gun store in Camarillo, California. The following day, he practiced firing the pistol at a Simi Valley shooting range, where he also bought pepper spray. Two days later, Roske booked a one-way flight from Los Angeles to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. 'Roske also saved a map on his Google account that contained location pins marking the residential addresses of associate justices in Maryland and northern Virginia,' prosecutors wrote. After arriving at Dulles on 7 June 2022, he took a taxi directly to Kavanaugh's home. He texted his sister on the way, telling her that he loved her. Roske was still on the phone with the police dispatcher when officers arrested him and seized his backpack and suitcase. He later told investigators that he was thinking about how to give his life 'a purpose' when he decided to kill Kavanaugh.
