The man accused of conspiring to murder Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh asked the internet for assassination tips weeks before he flew to the nation's capital loaded with weapons.
Nicholas Roske searched on Google for the "quietest semi auto rifle" and the "most effective place to stab someone" before he arrived outside Kavanaugh's home in June, according to an FBI warrant obtained by Fox News. The 26-year-old also said in an online chat forum he was going to "remove some people from the supreme court" to "stop roe v wade from being overturned."
"I could get at least one, which would change the votes for decades to come," Roske said, "and I am shooting for 3."
Kavanaugh's brush with death came amid efforts from congressional Democrats to stall legislation meant to beef up security for Supreme Court justices. Additional protections for the judges were provided promptly after the threat to Kavanaugh’s life.
The High Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June—and the leaked draft preceding it—prompted a wave of left-wing violence and intimidation. At least 60 crisis centers, which counsel women on alternatives to abortion, have been firebombed or vandalized since May.
Threats have also been made to other branches of government. Progressive activists are agitating to shut down Thursday evening’s congressional baseball game due to the government's alleged lack of action on climate change. In 2017, a former campaign volunteer for socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) shot five people, including Rep. Steve Scalise (R., La.), at a Republican practice event for the baseball game.
Roske, who called the police on himself, was apprehended by law enforcement outside Kavanaugh’s home in possession of a handgun, knife, pepper spray, and burglary tools. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted assassination.