An armed California man with murderous intentions was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Maryland home Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The Washington post reported that the man was upset about the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that is expected to overturn Roe v. Wade. The leaked opinion showed that Kavanaugh had joined with the majority in voting to strike down Roe V. Wade.
Sources close to the investigation told the Post he was also angry about the recent spate of mass shootings.
The man, who has not yet been identified, reportedly told police officers he wanted to kill Kavanaugh, and was carrying an unspecified weapon, along with burglary tools. He was described as being in his mid-20s. [The suspect was identified Wednesday afternoon. See update below].
The Montgomery County Police Department told the DC Examiner that they were “not able to release” the man’s identity, or whether he had a gun, explaining that “the case was transferred to the FBI,” and “that information will be provided by the FBI.”
NEW: Montgomery County Police Department tells @DCExaminer that the case against the man arrested near Kavanaugh’s home has been transferred to the FBI.https://t.co/yqsficB7Nx pic.twitter.com/izMXXRAwn6
— Jerry Dunleavy 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) June 8, 2022
In a subsequent tweet, Washington Examiner reporter Jerry Dunleavy said that when he queried the FBI, they referred him back to the Montgomery Police Department.
The Supreme Court said in a statement Wednesday that an armed man made threats against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and was taken into custody at about 1:50 a.m. near the justice’s house in Maryland. According to the report, the man did not make it onto Kavanaugh’s property in suburban Montgomery County.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement that Joe Biden “condemns the actions of this individual in the strongest terms” and that he’s “grateful to law enforcement” for quickly taking the suspect into custody.
“As the President has consistently made clear, public officials—including judges—must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety or that of their families,” Bates said in the statement. “And any violence, threats of violence, or attempts to intimidate justices have no place in our society.”
Following news of the arrest, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats to pass the Supreme Court security bill .
“House Democrats must pass this bill and they need to do it today. No more fiddling around with this, they need to pass it today …before the sun sets,” he said on the Senate floor.
This morning’s disturbing reports are exactly why the Senate unanimously passed a Supreme Court security bill weeks ago. But House Democrats have inexplicably blocked it. House Democrats need to stop their blockade and pass this uncontroversial bill today. pic.twitter.com/wd8UB5RDvm
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) June 8, 2022
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) took the opportunity to remind Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer of what he said two years ago at a pro-abortion rally outside the Supreme Court.
“I want to tell you Gorsuch, I want to tell you Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price! You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions,” Schumer bellowed on March 4, 2020.
“I wonder if @chuckschumer is still proud of personally threatening Supreme Court Justices now that people with guns are showing up at their houses to kill them,” Hawley tweeted.
I wonder if @chuckschumer is still proud of personally threatening Supreme Court Justices now that people with guns are showing up at their houses to kill them https://t.co/4Xx9iviyNG
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 8, 2022
The opinion could be released before the Supreme Court session ends at the end of June.
Update:
The suspect has been identified as Nicholas Roske, 26. He was found with a Glock 17 pistol, tactical knife, pepper spray, a hammer, screwdriver, crow bar, zip ties, duct tape and more.
NEW: Here's the federal affidavit against the man accused of trying to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Nicholas Roske allegedly flew from CA to DC. He took a taxi to Kavanaugh's Chevy Chase, Md. home.
Roske was found with a pistol, pepper spray, hammer, screwdriver, crow bar, etc pic.twitter.com/XJd5ZMWwrn
— Kevin Across America (@KevinLewisNomad) June 8, 2022
He has been charged with attempting to murder a Supreme Court Justice.
Full affidavit here.
According to the FBI investigator, Roske said that murdering the Kavanaugh would “give his life a purpose.” He allegedly told investigators that he was upset about the leaked Supreme Court decision, and the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. According to the affidavit, Roske (who was armed with a pistol) said he believed Kavanaugh would be on the side of the Second Amendment for gun rights.
Heavy reports that online records show that Roske is from Simi Valley, California.
The LinkedIn page of a Nicholas Roske from Simi Valley indicates that he worked as an office manager at a pest control company.