Prisoner’s Family Reflects on Circumstances Surrounding Attempted Assassination of Judge Kavanaugh

Following the imprisonment of Nicholas Rosuke for allegedly trying to kill Associate Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh, his mother discovered a hospital discharge in his unreleased suitcase, which she had named “Sophie Rosuke.”

“This is when some pieces of the puzzle come together,” Rosuke’s mother remarked in court. She urged judges to take his transgender identity into account when considering his sentence.

The government is seeking a 30-year prison sentence for Rosuke, while his attorney has referred to him using feminine pronouns in court documents submitted under the name “Sophie.”

Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed by Biden, is responsible for determining Rosuke’s sentence. In a separate case, she previously denied parents the right to let their young children opt-out of LGBTQ Storybook lessons.

In 2022, Rosuke appeared outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland residence with a gun, raising questions about his responsibilities and mental state, particularly since he was still “in the closet” at that time.

“I’m sorry for contributing to the trends in political violence in American politics,” he expressed in a letter to the judge, noting that he had been raised by loving, conservative Christian parents.

Rosuke shared that the thought of committing violence had “never occurred” to him until he contemplated suicide. He mentioned he had intended to seek treatment and medication, which he ultimately abandoned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During that period of self-reflection, he began questioning his gender identity and felt detached from his parents’ conservative views.

“When Dobbs happened, I was still in the closet, not taking any medication or undergoing treatment for two years,” he wrote. “After the draft leaked, my self-esteem hit rock bottom, along with my hopes for the future.”

His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

Family Conversations and Struggles

“Since his incarceration, we’ve been able to have open discussions about his evolving gender identity,” Rosuke’s mother told the judge.

His father mentioned that Rosuke struggled during the pandemic and lost interest in pursuing a master’s program when classes moved online.

“One day, she announced she was leaving for communal living,” his father recounted. “She lived there for a few months before returning home, only to later say she was moving to Seattle.”

After a brief period, Rosuke returned home again from Seattle, as he felt lost regarding employment and future prospects.

A friend testified that Rosuke had adopted a “nihilistic worldview,” challenging the evangelical upbringing he had received.

In 2022, he used the moniker “Sophie42 #6535” on Discord, where he voiced his mental health struggles and contemplated the implications of a Supreme Court judge’s death. His online searches revealed interest in philosophical quotes, like “nothing is true, everything is permitted.”

“We had to confront the troubling hypocrisy within the church regarding personal moral explorations,” John, his friend, said in court. He expressed sympathy for Rosuke, suggesting that this exploration might have driven him to his actions.

“What I think is significant is that this behavior indicates a struggle with moral truths,” John concluded.

Rosuke’s sister, who identifies as gay, noted that their family dynamics had changed, emphasizing how their parents have become more open-minded regarding the LGBTQ+ community. She highlighted their attendance at PFLAG support meetings.

“Transgender issues aren’t the same as gay identity, but I’ve appreciated my parents’ growth, particularly in my relationship with Sophie,” she stated.

She also raised concerns about Rosuke being confined in a men’s prison with limited access to gender-affirming resources.

In his letter, Rosuke mentioned that he is receiving hormone treatments while incarcerated, following a judge’s ruling to allow such therapies after blocking a prior executive order.

He recounted how arriving in Kavanaugh’s neighborhood shifted his perspective dramatically.

On June 8, 2022, Rosuke called 911, informing them that he was outside Kavanaugh’s house with a firearm and was contemplating suicide.

“I lost sight of the fact that judges and politicians are human beings because I was focused on the impact of policies,” he admitted to the judge. “The realization hit me hard, and I wanted to back away.”

“I’m out to my entire family now, and they’ve been really accepting,” he wrote.

Rosuke has pleaded guilty to his charges, with sentencing scheduled for Friday.