Overview
On June 8, 2022, a man from California travelled to the Washington, D.C., area with the intent to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The individual, later identified in court as Nicholas John Roske (who now identifies as trans and uses the name Sophie Roske) was found near Kavanaugh’s residence in Chevy Chase, Maryland, armed with a handgun, ammunition, and tools. [^] Roske had researched multiple justices’ home addresses, and made internet searches for “how to wipe down a drive,” among other steps to conceal his planning. [^] His stated motive included anger over a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and concerns about gun-control rulings. [^] After arriving at Kavanaugh’s neighborhood and seeing law-enforcement presence (including U.S. Marshals), Roske ended up calling 911 on himself and was arrested without incident. [^]
Sentencing
On October 3rd, 2025, Roske was sentenced to 97 months in prison (just over 8 years). [^] Critics have argued that the sentence is too lenient for a planned assassination of a Supreme Court Justice. [^] The Biden-appointed judge cited Roske’s sudden transgender identity as a reason to give a lighter sentence. [^] Federal sentencing guidelines call for a 30 year minimum for such a crime, nearly four times as long as what Roske received.
Fauxgendering in the Media
While covering this story, some outlets fauxgender Roske as female (using she/her pronouns) when he is male. This is bad (an infraction) as it accommodates delusion while throwing off gendered prison inmate stats.
- The wikipedia article on the incident fauxgenders Roske:
- “Roske traveled by plane from her residence in Simi Valley, California, to the Washington, D.C., area. She then took a taxi cab to Kavanaugh’s home…”
- nbcnews’s article fauxgenders him by calling him a “woman”:
- “A woman who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh three years ago was sentenced Friday to more than eight years in prison.”
- U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, while sentencing, went along with the lie, saying “She has taken full responsibility for her actions.” [^]
- Fortunately, she is housing him in a male-only prison. [^]
- Newsweek using incorrect female pronouns to refer to him:
- “In a September 19 memorandum filed ahead of Roske’s October 3 sentencing, her legal team noted…” [^]
- Roske’s legal team went along with the delusion as well:
- “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.” [^]
More Info
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-II8WwTuhF0—Brad Polumbo‘s take on the startling leniency in sentencing