Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
The man accused of attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh pleaded guilty this week to a federal charge of attempted assassination.
Some shit you should know before you read: Back in 2022, a leaked draft opinion revealing the Supreme Court’s intent to overturn Roe v. Wade sparked nationwide protests—and drove 26-year-old Nicholas John Roske to go all the way to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home with the intention of killing him. Roske, fueled by anger over the court’s direction on abortion rights, traveled from California to Maryland carrying a suitcase and backpack loaded with a Glock, ammunition, a tactical vest, zip ties, a knife, pepper spray, and tools for a break-in. He arrived outside Kavanaugh’s house in the early morning hours, dressed in black and ready to carry out the assassination. But after spotting US Marshals standing guard, he reconsidered, texted his sister a goodbye message, and—at her urging—called 911 and confessed his plan before being arrested on the scene.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Roske pleaded guilty in federal court to a single charge of attempting to assassinate a US Supreme Court justice—an offense that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The plea came nearly three years after his arrest and followed more than a year of stalled plea negotiations between Roske’s public defenders and federal prosecutors. Without reaching a formal agreement, Roske chose to admit guilt just months before his trial was scheduled to begin in June 2025.
When Judge Deborah Boardman asked whether he was thinking clearly, Roske responded, “I believe so,” indicating that he understood the legal process despite his ongoing mental health treatment. As the judge outlined the rights he was giving up, including the right to go to trial and challenge the evidence against him, Roske replied, “Yes, I understand.”
At one point, he stated, “I will be telling the truth today.”
Judge Boardman accepted the plea and scheduled his sentencing for October 3.
