Nicholas Roske, just from the flight from California, snatched a taxi to the house of Supreme Court Judge Brett M. Cavanaugh, according to court records. It was 1 in the morning What he had put in his suitcases, law enforcement officials said Thursday, underscored how serious he was in carrying out his plan to assassinate conservative justice: burglary tools, a gun and a pair of quietly made boots with outer soles that could allow stealth movement inside a house. “The upholstered boots really raised red flags,” said Capt. Sean Gagen, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Bethesda County. As detailed as Roske’s plans were, the court records and recent 911 calls also document how fast abandoned them. As soon as he got home early Wednesday, Roske spotted two U.S. deputy generals, part of Kavanaugh’s security guard, standing outside a car, according to an FBI jury testimony filed in federal court. He left, turned a corner and called 911 to surrender. “I’m standing now, but I can sit, no matter what. “I want to comply fully,” Roske said, according to a copy of the 911 call issued Thursday by the Montgomery County Police Department. “So whatever they want me to do, I will do it” County officials were quick to arrest Roske without incident. A man with a gun was arrested near the home of Brett Cavanaugh Federal officials have accused Roske attempted assassination of a federal judge. According to the FBI affidavit, Roske was upset by the leaked Supreme Court opinion, which Kavanaugh argued, signaling that the court was in a position to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He was also concerned that in the aftermath of the mass shootings in Ovalde, Texas, justice “would be in line with 2nd Amendment decisions that would relax gun control laws,” according to the affidavit. In the recordings of 911, Roske calmly answered questions, telling the pilot how he had just flown from California and planned to harm Cavanaugh and himself. He said his gun was locked in a holster in his suitcase and that he needed psychiatric help. Finally sirens sounded. “They are here. I’m going to hang up,” he said. In a court appearance Wednesday afternoon, neither Roske nor his lawyer made the allegations. When asked by US Judge Timothy J. Sullivan if he understood the process, Roske said: “I think I have a fairly reasonable understanding, but I would not say that I think clearly.” As Sullivan asked further, Roske only said that he was taking medication and that he had taken this medication on Wednesday. He later clarified that he had “a clear enough understanding” to move forward. He remains in custody pending further legal proceedings. Attorney Andrew Szekely, a federal attorney general, and Roske’s family in California could not be reached for comment Thursday. As a legal issue, the fact that Roske did not follow his supposed plans may not necessarily help him, analysts said. All of Roske’s actions, at least according to the FBI affidavit, probably put him above the “substantial steps beyond the simple preparation” generally required to be convicted of attempted murder in federal court, according to with Robert Bonsib, defense. lawyer in maryland. “His steps, as stated in the affidavit, were so substantial and well on track to complete the crime that defending the abandonment can be difficult,” Bonsib said. The 911 recordings offered a possible window into Roske’s mentality. Parts are adapted, such as its name and descriptions for medical issues. He called 911 twice. The first phone call lasted only a minute. The 911 operator asked where he was. By then, Roske had walked into a corner, about two blocks from the judge’s house. “Let me look for a sign,” he said, adding, “Give me a minute and I’ll call, okay?” And it did, this time providing a better location and its name. He talked about bad thoughts he had. “I have had them for a long time,” he said. “I’m from California. I came here to act on them. “ He said he intended to harm himself and someone else. “Do you have access to weapons? ” asked the operator 911. “Yes. “I brought a gun with me, but it is unloaded and locked in the case,” said the caller. “Okay. Where’s the gun now?” replied the operator. “She is in a suitcase. “It’s a black suitcase,” Roske said, according to the recording. “I am standing next to him, but the suitcase is tied with a zipper. I just came from the airport. “ Roske said he had neither drunk nor used drugs. Asked if he needed medical attention, Roske said: “I need psychiatric help.” Roske said his target was “Brett Kavanaugh… the Supreme Court justices”. He said he learned his address, in part, after seeing photos of protests outside Cavanaugh’s home on the Internet. As police were on their way, the pilot tried to keep Roske calm, among other things, by asking him if he had pets in the house. Roske said he did – a cockroach named Molly. Katie Mettler and Razzan Nakhlawi contributed to this report.
