The man accused of attempting to kill Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday.
Suspect Nicholas John Roske, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury last week on a charge of attempting to kill a Supreme Court justice. Roske could face up to life in prison if convicted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajmel Quereshi scheduled Roske’s trial for August 23.
Roske was arrested in the early morning of June 8 near Kavanaugh’s home while carrying a gun and a knife, according to an FBI affidavit from later that day. The affidavit stated that Roske had called 911 to turn himself in, saying he was having suicidal thoughts and intended to kill a justice.
Roske told authorities that he was incensed over a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, as well as a separate Court case involving gun rights.
“Roske indicated that he believed the Justice that he intended to kill would side with Second Amendment decisions that would loosen gun control laws,” the affidavit states.
Roske initially turned away from Kavanaugh’s home after seeing U.S. Marshals outside, according to police.
A week after Roske’s arrest, the House passed a bill granting government-funded security to the families of Supreme Court justices. That bill was initially passed in the Senate on May 9, amid protests outside the homes of multiple justices in the wake of the draft opinion leak.