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The California man arrested near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s DC suburb home pleaded not guilty to the attempted assassination of the conservative justice.
Nicholas John Roske was arrested on June 8 while carrying a gun, knife, pepper spray and other burglary tools. He told police he wanted to kill Kavanaugh because he feared he would overturn Roe v. Wade following the leak of a draft opinion, prosecutors said.
The 26-year-old bowed his head and clasped his hands around his neck as he answered questions from federal Judge Ajmel Quereshi. He gave quick and clear answers to each question while wearing oversized prison garb, according to CNN.
In addition to his concern over abortion rights, Roske also was upset Kavanaugh would loosen gun laws following the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas.
Prosecutors said he planned to commit suicide after potentially killing Kavanaugh.
When he arrived outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland home, he was spotted by two US Marshals who have been providing around-the-clock security due to ongoing protests outside justice’s homes in the wake of the Roe v. Wade leak.
He noticed the marshals and then walked down the block and called 911, telling the operator he was having suicidal thoughts and had a firearm on him. He also told the operator he wanted to kill Kavanaugh.
Roske was still on the phone when Montgomery County cops got to the scene and arrested him.
He allegedly told authorities he wanted to kill Kavanaugh after finding his address online in an ill-fated bid to “give his life a purpose.”
Roske’s attorney, public defender Andrew Szekely told the judge he was satisfied with the medical care and unspecified medication his client was receiving in prison.
Roske remained in custody following the arraignment with a trial date set for Aug. 23. He could face life in prison if convicted.
With Post wires
