A federal judge is set to sentence Nicholas “Sophie” Roske from Simi Valley, California, on Friday for his attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Bret Kavanaugh during deliberations on the Dobbs case, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The prosecution is calling for a hefty 30-year prison sentence coupled with a lifetime of supervised release. Meanwhile, the defense has proposed a significantly lighter 8-year term with 25 years of supervision post-release.
Roske pled guilty to these charges in April. His sentencing will take place at 10 AM at the United States District Court of Maryland in Greenbelt.
In the government’s sentencing memo, they underscore troubling messages Roske sent via Discord, which they argue reveal his “terroristic” political motives. Here are a few choice snippets:
“Would [Associate Justices’ last name] being removed from the SC help women long term?”
“I was thinking of the Roe decision. I feel like those 9 people make a much bigger impact than most people.”
“What do you think would happen if [last name of Associate Justice] died?”
“Also the right have a 5-4 majority so if one conservative justice dies then it becomes a 5-4 for the left.”
“If a conservative judge were replaced by a liberal judge, thus changing which party has the majority, what would change?”
“The thought of Roe v Wade and gay marriage both being repealed has me furious.”
The government also asserts that Roske’s intentions were evident when he expressed a desire to “remove multiple Supreme Court justices through murder” during conversations with another Discord user:
In response to the question “what u tryna do,” Roske replied, “remove some people from the supreme court.”
“Yeah but I could at least get one, which would change the votes for decades to come. And I am shooting for 3.”
“People have killed judges before.”
Adding to the chilling nature of his motives, Roske reportedly searched online for information about “countries least likely to extradite to the US,” effective ways to kill silently, and even explored the insanity defense concerning his mental state. His online behavior reflected an alarming commitment to violent thoughts.
In contrast, Roske’s defense is advocating for lesser punishment, asserting that his troubled upbringing, transgender identity, and mental health history necessitate a more lenient sentence. Notably, the defense memo hints at an attempt to shift blame towards Roske’s parents, citing their evangelical background as a cause for the “destabilizing” environment he faced—claiming this contributed to his suicide attempts, including a serious incident at the age of 19.
However, following the leak of the Dobbs decision on May 2, 2022, Roske became agitated discussing the Supreme Court and its substantial influence over national policies.
“This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi in a press release. She emphasized that the Department of Justice condemns political violence and will ensure that this deeply troubled individual faces stern consequences for his actions.
Stay tuned for updates from The Gateway Pundit as the judge’s decision unfolds.
