Prosecutors Seek 30-Year Sentence for Suspect in Kavanaugh Assassination Plot
Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to hand down a minimum 30-year prison sentence to the individual who admitted attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, calling the plot “bone-chilling” and an attack on the foundation of the U.S. government.
According to court filings, the would-be assassin, Sophie Roske — formerly Nicholas Roske — meticulously planned to murder Justice Kavanaugh at his Maryland home in June 2022. Prosecutors said the intent was to intimidate and influence the Court’s conservative majority, a direct assault on judicial independence.
“The defendant’s objective — to target and kill judges to seek to alter a court’s ruling — is an abhorrent form of terrorism and strikes at the core of the United States Constitution and our prescribed system of government,” U.S. Attorney for Maryland Kelly Hayes and fellow prosecutors wrote, Politico reported.
Authorities revealed that Roske’s actions inspired further threats, citing a disturbing letter sent to Kavanaugh earlier this year invoking Roske’s name and referencing a gunshot to the head.
Defense Pushes for Leniency, Cites Gender Identity
Defense attorneys are asking for just an eight-year sentence, claiming Roske acted “out of character” due to medication, self-esteem issues, and struggles with gender identity. They disclosed that Roske, 30, now identifies as a transgender woman, requesting the court use the name Sophie and female pronouns.
“Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel’s in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns,” the defense wrote.
They also submitted an undated handwritten apology letter in which Roske told Kavanaugh and his family:
“I put them through a harrowing experience and for that I am truly sorry. I am very glad I did not continue. I am also sorry for contributing to a trend of political violence in American politics.”
Armed and Ready to Kill
Roske was arrested on June 8, 2022, outside Kavanaugh’s Chevy Chase residence after traveling cross-country from California. She carried a suitcase loaded with a handgun, ammunition, a knife, hammer, duct tape, zip ties, and other tools. After spotting deputy U.S. Marshals guarding the home, she walked away and texted her sister, who persuaded her to call 911. Police then took her into custody.
Roske admitted to investigators that she planned to murder Justice Kavanaugh and then kill herself. Prosecutors said she had researched serial killers and assassination methods well before POLITICO’s leak of the draft opinion showing the Court’s intent to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“The thought of Roe v. Wade and gay marriage both being repealed has me furious,” prosecutors quoted from an online post tied to Roske.
DOJ: Attack Was on the Entire Judicial System
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a rare public statement, declaring:
“This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished.”
Roske pleaded guilty in April to attempted assassination of a Supreme Court Justice. Sentencing will be determined by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, a Biden appointee, on October 3.
If prosecutors succeed, Roske will spend at least three decades in federal prison for what they describe as a domestic terror plot against one of the nation’s highest-ranking jurists.