Lenient Sentence for Kavanaugh Plotter

A Biden‑appointed federal judge gave Nicholas Roske 97 months for attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh—far below the 30‑years‑to‑life guideline range—after declining most of the terrorism enhancement. The judge referenced research on terrorist rehabilitation and discussed the defendant’s transgender identity during sentencing. This outcome raises questions about consistency in domestic‑terror sentencing and the signals it sends about deterring political violence. — Perceived identity‑ or ideology‑tinged sentencing in a high‑salience political‑violence case could erode confidence in judicial neutrality and reshape debates over how courts handle terrorism enhancements.