A federal judge is set to sentence Nicholas Roske for his attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, with prosecutors seeking a 30-year prison term.
A federal judge is scheduled to sentence Nicholas Roske on Friday for his attempt to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. This incident occurred in the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision, which significantly impacted abortion rights in the United States.
The Department of Justice is advocating for a 30-year prison sentence for Roske, while his defense attorneys have requested a significantly shorter term of eight years. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors detailed how Roske arrived at Kavanaugh’s residence on June 8, 2022, armed with a pistol, ammunition, a knife, a crowbar, and tactical gear, with the intention of killing Kavanaugh and three other justices.
Prosecutors emphasized the potential consequences of Roske’s actions, describing them as “immeasurable and staggering.” They noted that by targeting at least one justice and aiming to kill three, Roske sought to alter an entire branch of the U.S. government through violence.
In contrast, Roske’s attorneys argued that a 30-year sentence, which includes enhancements for terrorism, is disproportionate to the crime. Roske pleaded guilty in April to one count of attempting to murder a Supreme Court justice, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The defense highlighted that Roske called 911 shortly after arriving at Kavanaugh’s home, effectively self-reporting his intentions and plans rather than proceeding with the attack. They also pointed out that Roske suffers from severe depression, arguing that his online searches related to mass shootings and various justices should not be interpreted as evidence of intent to murder multiple justices.
Roske’s attorneys stated, “As any internet user knows, Googling and doom-scrolling, even in dark corners of the internet, does not equate to criminal intent.” They further argued that a person’s online content is often voluminous, intensely personal, and can easily be misinterpreted.
In a notable development, Roske’s attorneys informed the court that although his name had not formally changed, he wishes to be referred to as “Sophie” and to use female pronouns. A footnote in their memorandum stated that the remainder of the document and the in-court arguments would respect this preference.
Roske’s sentencing comes amid growing concerns among judges regarding threats from ideologically motivated individuals across the political spectrum. The attempted assassination occurred just two weeks before the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a ruling that had sparked widespread protests outside the Supreme Court building and the homes of conservative justices.
In a related case, an Alaska man named Panos Anastasiou was indicted last year for sending hundreds of threatening messages to Supreme Court justices, including explicit threats of murder. Anastasiou faces accusations of making specific threats against six justices, including shooting, strangling, “lynching,” and beheading them.
This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Source: Original article
