The California man accused of planning to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh wanted to kill three Justices so he could change the makeup of the Supreme Court “for decades to come,” according to a recent court filing.
According to an affidavit, 26-year-old Nicholas John Roske told people online that his goal was to reverse the Roe v. Wade decision after a leaked draft decision indicated that the Supreme court planned on reversing Roe.
Authorities said Roske wrote that killing one jurist could change the decisions of the court “for decades to come.” saying, “I am shooting for three.”
Roske explained that “all of the major decisions for the past 10 years have been along party lines so if there are more liberal than conservative judges, they will have the power.”
The new details did no identify which of the other justices Roske planned to kill, however many believe they were other conservative justices on the High Court.
According to the filing, Roske’s cellphone history in May and June of this year included searches for “quietest semi auto rifle,” “Reagan assassination attempt,” “most effective place to stab someone,” “assassin skills,” “assassin equipment,” “assassinations,” “supreme court” and “how to be stealthy.”
Roske is charged with attempting to murder a justice of the United States. He has pleaded not guilty, and a trial date has been set for next month.
Prosecutors say Roske traveled from California to Kavanaugh’s home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with the intent of killing him. Roske pulled up near the home in a taxi shortly after 1 a.m. on June 8 carrying a suitcase with a gun and ammunition, a tactical chest rig with pepper spray and a knife, a flashlight, a laser, a thermal monocular and other burglary tools, according to court papers.
Roske was apprehended after he called 911 and told a police dispatcher that he was near Kavanaugh’s home and planned to kill him.
