A 26-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate Brett Kavanaugh at the US Supreme Court justice's home in Maryland has been indicted by a federal grand jury. Nicholas John Roske faces one count of attempting to murder an associate justice, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Prosecutors have moved to seize a Glock pistol, two magazines with ten rounds each, pepper spray, a tactical knife and burglary tools found on Roske at the time of his arrest near Kavanaugh's residence in Chevy Chase. Federal agents allege he travelled from his home in Simi Valley, California, to Maryland with the intent to kill the justice.
Court documents say Roske was motivated by a leaked draft opinion indicating that Kavanaugh and other conservative justices had provisionally voted to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a nationwide right to abortion. He reportedly confessed to the plot in a call to emergency services on 8 June, and also told investigators he was upset over the possibility of looser gun laws following recent mass shootings.
The indictment comes as the US House gave final approval to legislation expanding security protections for Supreme Court justices and their families, prompted by protests following the leak. The bill, which passed the Senate on 9 May and the House by 396-27, is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
A statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president condemns Roske's actions in the strongest terms, adding that threats of violence or attempts to intimidate justices have no place in society.
