This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. on June 8, 2022, to include the latest information
A California man who was arrested early Wednesday morning near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s house in Chevy Chase has been charged by federal authorities with attempted murder.
Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, Calif., was seen around 1:05 a.m. Wednesday by two U.S. deputy marshals, who were on duty, getting out of a taxicab that had stopped in front of Kavanaugh’s house, according to an affidavit filed Wednesday with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Soon after, the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center got a call from Roske who allegedly said he was having suicidal thoughts and that he had a gun in his suitcase, according to the affidavit. Roske also allegedly told the 911 call taker that he traveled to Maryland to kill “a specific Supreme Court justice.”
Montgomery County police officers then responded and Roske was taken into custody, according to authorities. Officers seized his backpack and suitcase, finding a black tactical chest rig, tactical knife, pistol with ammunition, pepper spray, a hammer, screwdriver, crowbar and other tools.
After Roske was taken into custody by county police, he allegedly told detectives that he was upset about the leak of a recent Supreme Court draft opinion indicating the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade, according to the affidavit. Roske was also allegedly upset about the recent shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Roske was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on Wednesday afternoon. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, according to authorities.
Attorney information for Roske was not available Wednesday afternoon.
The neighborhood near Kavanaugh’s home has been the site of multiple protests since Kavanaugh was confirmed to the court in 2018, with the most recent protests focused on a leaked draft of the opinion signaling the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media
