Recent court filings have revealed that Brett Kavanaugh’s would-be assassin, Nicholas John Roske, now identifies as a transgender woman named Sophie Roske. The 29-year-old has a history of severe mental illness, including suicidal ideation. Roske’s defense attorneys disclosed this information in a filing on Friday, opting to use female pronouns for their client “out of respect,” despite Roske not having legally changed her name. This development was first reported by the news site Daily Wire.
Roske was arrested in June 2022 outside Justice Kavanaugh’s home in Maryland, armed with a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, and other items indicative of a planned attack, including zip ties and pepper spray. Investigators revealed that Roske intended to kill Kavanaugh following the leak of a draft decision that proposed overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Justice Department is seeking a sentence of no less than 30 years for Roske, emphasizing that any attack on a sitting judge “must be justly and severely condemned.” The DOJ stated, “This Court’s sentence must send the unequivocal, clear, and strong message that attempted violence and threats of violence against members of the judiciary … cannot and will not be tolerated.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled Roske a “disturbed individual” and criticized the assassination plot as a form of political violence. Bondi remarked, “This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished.” Reports indicate that Roske exhibited signs of mental distress prior to the attempt, having engaged in online discussions about his suicidal thoughts and intentions.
Before the assassination attempt, Roske conducted extensive online research on various methods to carry out the act, probing topics such as “quietest semi auto rifle” and “most effective way to silently kill someone.” In conversations on the platform Discord, Roske expressed a desire to “do something positive” before dying, mistakenly believing that eliminating Kavanaugh would benefit women in the long term.
When apprehended, Roske admitted that he purchased the gun “with the intention of using it to kill the justice and then myself.” He stated that his sister convinced him to call 911 before executing his plan. Prosecutors disclosed that Roske had targeted multiple justices and had bought weapons after protests outside their homes publicly revealed their addresses.
The leak of the draft Dobbs opinion in May 2022 sparked nationwide protests, which led to enhanced security measures for Supreme Court justices. Yet, the source of that leak remains unidentified. Court records indicate that Roske began his extensive research into weaponry and assassination tactics as early as March 2022, exploring chilling queries related to effective assassination methods and personal safety while incarcerated.
Despite Roske’s guilty plea, the case has faded from public discussion since 2022, with the recent court filing marking the first acknowledgment of Roske's transgender identity. This revelation arrives amid growing scrutiny from conservative groups about violence linked to transgender individuals. Earlier this month, the Oversight Project called on the FBI to classify “Transgender Ideology Violent Extremism” as a domestic threat.
Moreover, the Justice Department has reportedly considered proposing restrictions on gun access for individuals with gender dysphoria, suggesting that it could be classified as a mental disorder that poses a risk for violence. As the sentencing date approaches, prosecutors have described Roske's planned attack as an attempt to “single-handedly alter the Constitutional order for ideological ends.”
While recent high-profile shootings have brought attention to suspects with ties to the transgender community, each situation varies significantly. Notably, a recent incident involved Tyler Robinson, who allegedly shot and killed Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, though the shooter himself was not transgender. Speculation arose about possible trans-related motives due to the transitioning status of Robinson's romantic partner.
In another tragic case, Robin Westman, a trans woman, carried out a deadly shooting at a church in Minneapolis, leading to the deaths of two children and injuries to many others. Such incidents highlight the complexities and challenges surrounding discussions of mental health and violence in relation to gender identity.
