DOJ Appeals Insufficient Sentence for Would-Be Kavanaugh Assassin

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice will appeal the eight-year prison sentence given to Nicholas Roske, the man who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Roske, who traveled from California to Maryland in 2022 with a loaded Glock and other tools to carry out the assassination, was sentenced by Federal District Judge Deborah Boardman, a Joe Biden appointee, to a term significantly below the 30 years to life recommended by prosecutors. Judge Boardman justified the lenient sentence partly due to Roske's decision to abandon the plan and call 911, as well as citing his transgender status, which has drawn criticism and claims of judicial bias. The DOJ and critics argue the sentence is woefully insufficient given the premeditated nature and political motivation behind the plot, comparing it unfavorably to harsher sentences given for less severe offenses related to the January 6 Capitol attack. This case highlights broader concerns about judicial decisions under Biden-appointed judges and their potential implications for rule of law and justice consistency. The DOJ's appeal aims to correct what it views as a miscarriage of justice and uphold the severity warranted by an assassination attempt on a Supreme Court Justice.