71°
Nicholas John Roske, age 29, of Simi Valley, admitted in court that he flew from Los Angeles to Dulles International Airport in June 2022, carrying a firearm and ammunition in his checked luggage.
From there, he took a taxi to a Montgomery County neighborhood, where he planned to assassinate a Supreme Court Justice at their home, according to the Department of Justice.
He was reportedly targeting Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase.
Roske pleaded guilty in federal court to the attempted murder of a United States Supreme Court justice, according to US Attorney Kelly Hayes for the District of Maryland.
“This calculated attempt on the life of a sitting US 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.”
The attempted attack happened around 1:05 a.m. on June 8, 2022.
According to prosecutors, Roske was dressed in black and carrying a backpack and suitcase when two US Marshals saw him get out of a taxi in front of the Justice’s home.
Minutes later, Roske called 911 on himself, saying he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts and that he flew from California “to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice.”
Montgomery County Police quickly arrived and took him into custody without incident.
Inside Roske’s luggage, law enforcement found a small arsenal that included a handgun, tactical gear, zip ties, a crowbar, duct tape, a hammer, screwdrivers, a tactical knife, and lock-picking tools.
He told police he was upset about a leaked draft decision on abortion and the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Roske now faces life in prison when sentenced on June 13.
“This guilty plea makes clear that those actions have serious consequences,” said FBI Special Agent William DelBagno. “We will not stop our pursuit of extremists who advocate violence and threaten others.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, Montgomery County Police, US Marshals, and the Supreme Court Police.
Hayes added, “the attempted assassination of a United States Supreme Court Justice is an extreme, brazen act, one that we — along with our federal, local, and state law-enforcement partners — will not tolerate."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Killingly-Danielson and receive free news updates.
