Conservatives Criticize 'Lenient' 8‑Year Sentence for Roske in Kavanaugh Assassination Plot; DOJ to Appeal
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman sentenced California resident Riley (Sophie) Roske to 97 months (8 years, 1 month) in prison plus lifetime supervised release for the plot to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and the Department of Justice announced it will appeal the term. Conservatives called the sentence “lenient,” with critics including Sen. John Kennedy and media commentators faulting the ruling after prosecutors — who had sought at least 30 years — detailed seized evidence (a Glock 17, tactical gear, tools and a map with pins on justices’ homes), while the judge cited mitigating factors such as Roske’s on‑scene confession, mental‑health history, remorse and cooperation.
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📌 Key Facts
- U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman sentenced the defendant, Taylor (now Sophie) Roske, to 97 months (8 years, 1 month) in prison plus lifetime supervised release.
- The Department of Justice, with Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly confirming the move, announced it will appeal the 8‑year sentence as insufficient.
- Prosecutors had sought at least 30 years, characterizing the plot as an ideologically motivated act of terrorism; the defense emphasized Roske’s mental‑health history, gender‑identity issues, remorse and cooperation.
- Judge Boardman—identified in reporting as a Biden appointee confirmed in 2021—said she weighed mitigating factors including Roske’s spontaneous confession, her calling 911 and cooperation with police when determining the sentence.
- At arrest authorities seized extensive evidence: a Glock 17 with magazines and ammunition, a tactical chest rig, knife, pepper spray, zip ties, tools, modified hiking boots and a map with pins showing the homes of four sitting Supreme Court justices.
- Reporting and a CBS News interview with Justice Amy Coney Barrett confirmed the plotter had mapped the homes of conservative justices (including Barrett’s), underscoring a broader public‑safety threat to the Court; Barrett said in the interview, “I’m not afraid,” and described routine protests and harassment directed at justices and their families.
- Conservative commentators and politicians reacted strongly, with social‑media critics calling Judge Boardman a “disgrace” and calling the sentence a “joke,” Sen. John Kennedy saying the term was “shocking” and predicting Roske could be released in about six years, and Fox analyst Gregg Jarrett criticizing the court’s consideration of gender‑identity and mental‑health claims as mitigating.
- News coverage published on‑the‑record quotes from Judge Boardman, Roske’s apology in court, and statements from officials and commentators reflecting the dispute over whether the sentence appropriately reflects the severity of the assassination plot.
📰 Sources (6)
Sen. Kennedy left shocked by judge's 8-year sentence for attempted Kavanaugh assassin
New information:
- Direct on‑camera quotes from Sen. John Kennedy calling the eight‑year sentence 'shocking' and saying Roske will likely 'be out in six' years.
- Segmented TV context: Kennedy's remarks came during an appearance on 'America's Newsroom' (names of cohosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino noted).
- Additional conservative legal commentary (Fox analyst Gregg Jarrett) asserting the judge’s history and that the defense emphasized Roske's gender‑identity and mental‑health claims to argue for leniency.
As justices confront harassment, death threats, Barrett says "I'm not afraid"
New information:
- Direct, on‑the‑record interview and new quotes from Justice Amy Coney Barrett — notably "I'm not afraid."
- Barrett's firsthand description that protesters routinely gather at her public events and at her home and that her children have faced backlash (characterized as having to be 'unpopular').
- Confirmation in Barrett's interview that court papers showed the plotter had mapped the homes of other conservative justices, including hers — reinforcing the public‑safety threat to the Court.
Biden-appointed judge slammed by conservatives for 'lenient' 8-year sentence in Kavanaugh assassination plot
New information:
- Conservative backlash on social media naming Judge Deborah Boardman a 'disgrace' and calling the sentence a 'joke' (quotes and named critic Mike Davis included).
- Reporting notes the defendant now uses the name Sophie and highlights that some commenters say the judge considered gender-identity-related issues when sentencing.
- DOJ publicly announced it will appeal the district court’s 8‑year sentence; Attorney General Pam Bondi posted reaction and confirmed the appeal.
- Judge Boardman—identified as a Biden appointee confirmed in 2021—said she weighed mitigating factors including Roske's spontaneous confession and cooperation with police.
California resident gets over 8 years in prison for attempt to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh
New information:
- Confirms sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman: 8 years and 1 month (97 months) plus lifetime court supervision.
- Reports DOJ (Attorney General Pam Bondi) says it will appeal the sentence as insufficient.
- Details defendant’s behavior at the scene and that she called 911 and reported suicidal/homicidal thoughts before law enforcement learned of the plot; judge cited that in mitigation.
8-year sentence for plot to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
New information:
- Sentence imposed: 97 months (8 years, 1 month) in prison and lifetime supervised release.
- Sentencing judge identified: U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman handed down the sentence and delivered remarks.
- Detailed evidence and items seized at arrest: Glock 17 with magazines/ammo, tactical chest rig, knife, pepper spray, zip ties, tools, hiking boots with modifications, and a map with pins for homes of four sitting Supreme Court justices.
- Prosecutors had sought at least 30 years, framing the plot as an ideologically motivated terrorism attempt; defense noted mental‑health history and remorse, including that Roske called police on herself.
- Direct quotes from the judge and from Roske's apology in court were published.