Man Accused of Trying to Kill Supreme Court Justice Intends to Plead Guilty

‘I was under the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing him,’ Roske was quoted as saying in an interview with police officers.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his confirmation hearing to serve as associate justice on the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 4, 2018. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

The man who allegedly planned to kill U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh intends to plead guilty, according to a new court filing.

Nicholas Roske acknowledges that U.S. prosecutors would prove at trial that he traveled to Kavanaugh’s Maryland home in 2022 “with the intent to kill the Associate Justice and then himself,” the filing, lodged on April 2 and signed by Roske, stated.

Lawyers for Roske told U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman that he wishes to plead guilty to the charge brought against him: attempting to assassinate a Supreme Court justice.

The lawyers said they spoke to U.S. prosecutors but that there is no plea deal in place.

The filings are meant to assist Boardman as she considers whether to accept the guilty plea, Roske’s attorneys said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, which is prosecuting Roske, declined to comment.

The Supreme Court’s press office did not return an inquiry.

If Roske’s plea is accepted, he will face up to life in prison, according to the filing, as well as a fine of up to $250,000.

Roske flew from California to Virginia on June 7, 2022, according to court documents. He took a taxi to Maryland, to the home of Kavanaugh, whose address he located online.

He was said to have brought weapons with him, including a Glock 17 gun. He’s said that after he received a call from his sister, he was dissuaded from going through with his plan to kill Kavanaugh, according to Roske’s interview with police officers after he was arrested.

Roske said he was motivated to plot to murder Kavanaugh because of a draft opinion that showed the justice, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, would be among the majority striking down Roe v. Wade. That would give states the ability to regulate abortion, instead of having it decided on a federal level.

A majority later struck down Roe v. Wade.

Roske also said he heard the Supreme Court would be loosening gun restrictions.

“I was under the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing him,” Roske was quoted as saying in the interview.

Roske and his lawyers have previously fought the charge. He had pleaded not guilty after being arraigned.

Roske, his lawyers, and prosecutors are available for a hearing on April 7, his lawyers said. If that doesn’t work for the judge, then a previously scheduled hearing for April 8 will do, they said.