A transgender individual who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his Maryland home in 2022 has been sentenced to eight years in prison, a term far below the 30-year sentence sought by federal prosecutors. Nicholas Roske, who identifies as Sophie, traveled from California to Washington, D.C., armed with a Glock 17 pistol and tools intended for breaking into Kavanaugh’s residence. Prosecutors alleged she aimed to restrain and kill the justice due to his pro-life stance.
Roske pleaded guilty in April, admitting to researching the homes of four conservative Supreme Court justices with plans to kill at least three. She arrived at Kavanaugh’s house in June 2022 but abandoned her plan after spotting U.S. Marshals and subsequently turned herself in. Judge Deborah Boardman, a Biden appointee, cited Roske’s decision to contact authorities as a factor in her sentencing. The judge expressed skepticism about the government’s claim that Roske would have carried out the attack if she had not seen the security detail.
The 97-month sentence includes lifetime supervised release. Roske, who was transitioning from male to female at the time of the crime, has been detained for three years. With time served and good behavior, she could be released within four years. The case highlights the controversial leniency of the punishment despite the severity of the attempted assassination.