Transgender Identity Emerges in Attempted Assassination of US Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh Amid DOJ's 30-Year Sentence Recommendation

Nicholas John Roske, who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, now identifies as transgender and goes by the name Sophie Roske, as revealed by court and defense documents. Roske pleaded guilty in April 2025, and the Department of Justice is seeking a prison sentence of 30 years, emphasizing the severity of the attack against the judiciary and the need for a strong deterrent message. Roske traveled from California to Kavanaugh's Maryland home armed with a Glock pistol and other weapons, and upon seeing security, he called 911 on himself, citing severe mental illness and homicidal thoughts. Defense lawyers have requested the court to use female pronouns out of respect for Roske's gender identity, though the legal case remains under his original name. The government noted that threats linked to Roske continued after the arrest, demonstrating ongoing risks to the Court. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the assassination attempt as an attack on the judicial system and confirmed the Department of Justice's commitment to ensure Roske faces severe consequences.