Court filings have revealed that Nicholas Roske, the California man who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, now identifies as a “transgender woman” named Sophie.
Roske, 29, was arrested in 2022 after traveling to Kavanaugh’s Maryland home armed with burglary tools and weapons.
Instead of carrying out the attack, Roske called the police outside the justice’s residence and surrendered.
In April 2025, Roske pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a sitting Supreme Court justice. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors are recommending a 30-year prison sentence.
The latest filings confirm Roske’s new identity.
“The case is captioned as United States v. Nicholas John Roske,” attorneys wrote. “That name remains Ms. Roske’s legal name, and she has not asked to recaption the case. Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel’s in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns.”
A source familiar with the proceedings said Roske had been using a female identity online prior to the arrest, as Trending Politics reported.
Attorney General Pam Bondi told the Daily Wire that Roske is a “disturbed individual” capable of “political violence.”
“This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished,” Bondi said. “This Department of Justice condemns political violence and our prosecutors will ensure that this disturbed individual faces severe consequences for his deranged actions.”
Prosecutors argued in court that the sentencing must “send the unequivocal, clear, and strong message that attempted violence and threats of violence against members of the judiciary — as well as other public and federal officials — cannot and will not be tolerated.”
The “transgender” revelation adds another layer of controversy to the case. The disclosure comes just days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated by Tyler Robinson, a gunman who lived with a transgender partner.
A letter allegedly left by Robinson suggested he killed Kirk to “protect” Lance Twiggs, the man who identified as a woman.
That case has already drawn comparisons to other politically charged incidents, including the 2023 Nashville Christian school shooting carried out by a transgender shooter.
Officials are now considering broader policy responses.
According to the Wire, the Department of Justice is weighing new restrictions that could bar transgender individuals from purchasing firearms.
The DOJ said the move is one of “a range of options to prevent mentally unstable individuals from committing acts of violence, especially at schools.”
Bondi emphasized that the federal government will not back down from prosecuting political violence.
“This department will act decisively against anyone who threatens the stability of our judicial system,” she said.
The plea agreement in the Roske case is expected to be finalized later this year.
