“We can confirm that the FBI conducted a court authorized search at the California home and last known residence of Nick Roske,” an FBI spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email.
Video footage showed armed agents entering the residential home in Simi Valley and removing items.
Neighbors told the broadcaster that the agents were questioning them, asking for information about Roske.
While some said they didn’t know the man, others said they did.
“I think that it’s a scary time we live in and people really need to look out for one another and mental health is a big issue going on in the world,” another neighbor said.
Roske was apprehended at approximately 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities said. He told officers he traveled to Maryland to break into Kavanaugh’s home and kill the justice because he feared how he would rule in upcoming decisions on abortion and gun rights.
Roske had a pistol, a tactical knife, duct tape, a hammer, a crowbar, a screwdriver, zip ties, pepper spray, and a tactical rig when he was arrested.
Roske was charged with violating a law that bars assaulting, kidnapping, or murdering, or attempting to assault, kidnap, or murder, a U.S. judge or a judge’s immediate family members.
The man, who faces up to 20 years in prison, appeared in federal court in Greenbelt and agreed to remain in detention for now.
Asked if he understood what was happening, he said, “I think I have a reasonable understanding, but I wouldn’t say I’m thinking clearly.” He said he was on medications prescribed by a doctor. He did not name the medications.
A public defender was representing Roske. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan said he had reviewed a financial affidavit and that Roske qualified for a public defender. That affidavit has not been released publicly.
Andrew Szekely, the public defender, said that the defense reserved to right to try for pretrial release at a later point in time.
Roske said he found Kavanaugh’s Chevy Chase address online.
Ruth Sent Us, a pro-abortion activist group that posted a map with the addresses of Kavanaugh and five other justices in May, said on social media that “we didn’t send him.”
The group organized a protest outside Kavanaugh’s home on Wednesday night. Activists have regularly gone to the home of the six justices appointed by Republicans since a draft decision published last month indicated the court is poised to strike down Roe v. Wade.
“What do we want? Abortion rights? When do we want it? Now? If we don’t get it, we will fight,” activists shouted.
Approximately a dozen law enforcement officers stood outside the home, but no arrests were made.
