Kavanaugh Assassin Attempt: Simi Valley Resident Sentenced to Over 8 Years

A California resident who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh at his Maryland home has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman imposed a punishment significantly more lenient than the Justice Department’s recommendation of at least 30 years.

Sophie Roske, a transgender woman from Simi Valley, charged under her legal name, Nicholas Roske, faced a maximum sentence of life in prison. Judge Boardman sentenced Roske, 29, to eight years and one month behind bars, followed by a lifetime of court supervision. Prosecutors, however, have indicated they will appeal the sentence, calling it “woefully insufficient” and stating it “does not reflect the horrific facts of this case.”

The incident occurred on June 8, 2022, when Roske, then 26, was dropped off by a taxi outside Kavanaugh’s Chevy Chase, Md., home. She was found in possession of a pistol, a knife, zip ties, and burglary tools. Roske abandoned the plot after noticing U.S. Marshals Service deputies guarding the residence and subsequently called 911, reporting suicidal and homicidal thoughts and confessing her intent.

During sentencing, Roske apologized to Kavanaugh and his family for the stress caused, stating, “I have been portrayed as a monster, and this tragic mistake that I made will follow me for the rest of my life.” Her attorneys argued that Roske was struggling with mental illness and her gender identity, and that her actions stemmed from isolation and inadequately treated mental health issues, particularly after the leak of the draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court intended to overrule Roe v. Wade.

Prosecutors maintained that Roske’s mental illness does not excuse her actions, describing her objective to target and kill judges to alter court rulings as “an abhorrent form of terrorism.” The case highlights the growing concern over political violence and threats against federal judges, which have quadrupled in recent years, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

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