GET THE APP
Friday, March 13, 2026

Tag: Assassination
October 31, 2025
Crime
News

Attempted Trump Assassin Wants to Be Imprisoned in a State Where He Can Be Euthanized.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ryan Routh, convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump, has requested to serve his sentence in a state that allows physician-assisted suicide.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ryan Routh, President Donald J. Trump, Judge Aileen M. Cannon, and federal prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The request was filed on October 30, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The assassination attempt occurred in South Florida in 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am a constant failure… without love—what is the point.” – Ryan Routh

🎯IMPACT: The request came after Routh had already tried to kill himself following his guilty verdict.

IN FULL

On October 30, Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man pro-Ukraine activist convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump at a Florida golf course last year, has filed an extraordinary request to serve his sentence in a state allowing physician-assisted suicide. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, Routh, a former North Carolina roofer turned Ukraine aid organizer, asked for a recommendation to transfer him to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ custody in such a jurisdiction—though any judicial suggestion would not bind the agency.

Describing himself as “a constant failure” and questioning life’s value behind bars, he wrote, “without love—what is the point.” He also proposed an international prisoner swap, urging, “Do not let me take my own life and it have zero benefit for humanity or mankind.”

Routh’s path to infamy intertwined fervent pro-Ukraine activism with deep-seated anti-Trump animus. After Russia’s 2022 invasion, the Hawaii resident founded the International Volunteer Center in Kiev, recruiting veterans, many from Afghanistan, to join Ukraine’s International Legion despite visa hurdles. He lobbied Congress for more aid and appeared in an Azov Brigade video, among other stunts. Legion insiders introduced him to journalists in 2023, praising his efforts despite language barriers. A vocal Biden-Harris supporter, Routh’s social media railed against Trump and Israel.

Months before the September 2024 attempt, Routh penned a note to an associate, admitting Democratic-inspired motives. He decried Trump for allegedly abandoning America’s “kind, caring, and selfless” ideals, blamed him for Middle East chaos via a “juvenile” Iran pullout, and offered a $150,000 bounty to “complete the job.” In the letter, found with bullets, he lamented: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I am so sorry I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”

Prosecutors said Routh stalked Trump’s West Palm Beach course for weeks before Secret Service agents spotted him on September 15, 2024, armed and hiding in a bush a short distance from President Trump. Agents fired shots and sent him fleeing; he never discharged his rifle, but a young girl was almost killed during his escape attempt.

Convicted in September 2024 on five counts, including attempted assassination, Routh fired his lawyers, represented himself, and, post-verdict, jabbed a pen at his neck in court in an apparent suicide attempt before being restrained.

He later called dismissing counsel “a childish mistake.” Routh faces up to life at his December 2025 sentencing. Notably, federal prisons generally avoid assisted-suicide states.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 27, 2025
Crime
News

Feds Arrest Anarchist for Alleged $45K Bounty on AG Pam Bondi.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man was arrested for allegedly posting a $45,000 bounty on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s life via TikTok.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tyler Maxon Avalos, a 29-year-old Minnesota resident, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Avalos was detained on October 16, following a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation into his TikTok post.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[Avalos] has a multistate conviction history including a July 2022 felony stalking conviction,” noted the FBI affidavit.

🎯IMPACT: Avalos faces federal charges and a potential prison sentence for interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person.

IN FULL

A 29-year-old Minnesota man, Tyler Maxon Avalos, has been arrested by federal agents after allegedly offering a $45,000 bounty for the killing of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. According to court filings, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) detained Avalos on October 16 after receiving a tip about what investigators described as an online “murder-for-hire” plot.

Authorities say Avalos posted a photo of Bondi on TikTok with a red target symbol over her forehead and the caption: “WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD).”

Federal agents say Avalos used the screen name “Wacko” and linked to an “An Anarchist FAQ book” on his profile, suggesting anarchist ideological motives.

Court documents reveal Avalos has a history of violence, including convictions for felony stalking in 2022 and felony domestic battery in 2016, as well as a reduced charge of misdemeanor domestic assault that same year. He now faces a federal charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person. If convicted, he could face years in federal prison.

Filings refer to Avalos’s “anarchist ties.” His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, declined to discuss the case in detail but insisted his client “is not guilty of any crime.” Pam Bondi has not issued any public comment on the matter.

The arrest comes amid a broader national focus on left-wing extremist groups and anarchist movements. Recent incidents involving Antifa-style agitation have drawn renewed attention from law enforcement. Earlier this month, a man wearing an “Antifa-style mask” was arrested for allegedly opening fire on a Trump supporter’s home after attempting to remove a pro-Trump banner. Federal prosecutors have also brought the first-ever terrorism charges against self-described Antifa members following a sniper attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

Meanwhile, Rutgers professor Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, has reportedly left the United States, fearing reprisals. Bray has denied being part of Antifa, stating, “I’m not now, nor have I ever been.”

Notably, the Trump administration directed banks and financial institutions to monitor possible funding of Antifa and other left-wing domestic terror groups in recent weeks.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 21, 2025
Crime
News

Slovak Leader’s Would-Be Assassin Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Juraj Cintula was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism charges for shooting and seriously wounding Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in 2024.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The attacker, Juraj Cintula, 72, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, 64.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in May 2024 in Handlová, Slovakia. The sentencing followed in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” said Cintula during his trial.

🎯IMPACT: The attack and subsequent trial have deeply impacted Slovakia, raising tensions in the small EU and NATO-member country.

IN FULL

A 72-year-old man, Juraj Cintula, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for terrorism after shooting and seriously injuring Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. The attack took place in the town of Handlová, where Fico was meeting with supporters following a cabinet session. Cintula approached the prime minister at close range and fired five shots, hitting him in the abdomen, hip, hand, and foot.

Fico was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent a five-hour emergency surgery. He survived and made a full recovery, reappearing in public several months later. During his trial, Cintula claimed he never intended to kill the prime minister but wanted to express his political frustration through violence. “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” he told the court, adding that he was relieved when he found out Fico had survived.

Judge Igor Králik, who presided over the case, emphasized that the crime was politically motivated and targeted at the state’s highest official. “The defendant did not attack a citizen, but specifically the prime minister. He was against the government, he was inciting people to overthrow the government,” Králik said. Although Cintula acted alone and had no ties to organized groups, the court ruled that his intention and method met the legal definition of terrorism. He has the right to appeal the verdict, though it is unclear whether he will.

The shooting has sent shockwaves throughout Slovakia, a European Union and NATO member state. Fico has long been a polarizing figure in Slovak politics, known for his nationalist and populist views, particularly his softer stance on Russia. After returning to power in 2023 for a fourth term, he halted military support for Ukraine and criticized what he described as Western interference in Slovak affairs.

Fico blames liberal opposition groups and media outlets in Slovakia for creating an atmosphere of hate that led to the attempt on his life. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Fico, condemned the attack, calling it a wake-up call for peace in Europe. “Today we must fight for peace alone,” he said.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 16, 2025
Crime

FBI Probes Network Behind Kirk Assassination, Suspect May Have Had Help.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating whether an “extended network” helped Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel, and left-wing extremist groups.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination occurred on September 10 at Utah Valley University.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are dedicating every asset to reaching out to anyone he [Robinson] contacted, called, and text-messaged and had chats online [on] social media platforms with.” – Kash Patel

🎯IMPACT: The investigation has expanded to include far-left groups and online communities that may have influenced or supported Robinson.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is indicating that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk, may have received assistance from an “extended network” to carry out the assassination. Robinson, 22, is facing charges including aggravated murder and the possibility of the death penalty.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated late Wednesday that the agency is “dedicating every asset” to identifying individuals or groups who may have aided Robinson. This includes examining his communications on social media and online platforms.

Law enforcement is investigating several groups, including the pro-transgender organization Armed Queers SLC, which reportedly removed its Instagram account following Kirk’s assassination. The group’s logo features high-powered rifle rounds similar to those used in the attack. Authorities are also scrutinizing the online gaming platform Steam and other communities where Robinson was active.

Robinson is believed to have been radicalized by far-left ideologies, and he possibly received material support from other left-wing and pro-transgender extremists online. He reportedly confessed to the murder in a message sent via the Discord platform and made a phone call shortly after the attack. Investigators are working to verify these claims and trace any further connections.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 15, 2025
Crime
News

Leftists Are Funding CEO-Killer Luigi Mangione’s Lavish Prison Life.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has amassed $40,000 in his jail commissary account, largely funded by his supporters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Luigi Mangione, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi’s supporters, and federal and state authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Mangione is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting trials for the December 4, 2024, shooting in Midtown Manhattan.

💬KEY QUOTE: A supporter reportedly wrote to Mangione saying she wants to “bug out on his d**k.”

🎯IMPACT: Mangione’s case highlights far-left support for politically motivated violence, up to and including murder.

IN FULL

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has reportedly built up a $40,000 commissary balance while in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The money, according to a jailhouse source, has come largely from supporters. Despite the sizable account, Mangione can only spend $160 per commissary visit. He is said to frequently purchase items like Nutella Hazelnut spread for $4.90, summer sausage for $2.10, oatmeal for $3.65, jalapeño wheels for $3.20, and Velveeta cheese for $3.70.

Sources say Mangione receives between 100 to 200 letters a day, many of them reportedly from women expressing romantic interest. One letter writer allegedly expressed a desire to “bug out on his d**k.” Inside the jail, Mangione’s routine includes morning garbage duty, as well as regular visits with his parents and consultations with his legal team as he prepares to face two upcoming trials, one in state court and another in federal court.

Mangione is charged with the fatal December 4, 2024, shooting of Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. In the federal case, he is accused of murder with a firearm, a charge that could carry the death penalty if convicted. He also faces a second-degree murder charge in state court.

In September 2025, a New York judge dismissed terrorism-related charges against Mangione, ruling that prosecutors had not proven he acted with the intent to intimidate a population or influence government policy. The murder charge was allowed to proceed.

Mangione’s legal team has argued that state and federal prosecutions for the same incident amount to double jeopardy, though the judge said such a ruling would be premature before the trials take place.

Meanwhile, in the federal case, Mangione’s attorneys are seeking to have the death penalty removed as an option. They argue that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to pursue the death penalty was politically motivated and violated his rights. Bondi, who announced the DOJ’s intent to seek capital punishment in April 2025, described the killing as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination” and made several public statements that the defense claims were prejudicial.

The defense has also challenged the legal grounds for the death penalty enhancement, questioning whether the accompanying stalking charge qualifies as a crime of violence. Mangione’s legal team has declined to comment publicly on the case. The trials are expected to begin in the coming months.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 15, 2025
News

Anna Paulina Luna Receives JFK Files from Russia.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced she has received documents relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy from the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C., after U.S. President Donald J. Trump declassified the U.S. government files relating to Kennedy earlier this year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anna Paulina Luna, Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev, and the Russian embassy.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Documents were handed over recently at the Russian ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C., and are expected to be published in Russia in November.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I have received a hard copy of the report on JFK’s assassination from the Ambassador of Russia… This is of massive historical significance.” – Anna Paulina Luna

🎯IMPACT: The release of these documents could reignite public interest in JFK’s assassination and provide new insights into the historic event.

IN FULL

Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has announced that she received a report from Russia detailing documents in the country’s possession relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. According to the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C.—which confirmed the handover—the report and documents will be publicly released in Russia in November.

Luna, chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that the 350-page report would be reviewed and translated by experts, including investigative journalist and CIA expert Jefferson Morley, before being made accessible to the public. “I have received a hard copy of the report on JFK’s assassination from the Ambassador of Russia… This is of massive historical significance,” Luna stated.

The Russian embassy noted that the archives were handed over at the residence of Ambassador Alexander Darchiev and included documents originally presented by Soviet representative Anastas Mikoyan at Kennedy’s funeral. The embassy added, “Archive documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination to be officially published in Russia in November… was handed over to Representative Anna Paulina Luna upon her request and the consent of copyholders by the Russian Ambassador.”

JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963, while traveling in an open-top motorcade in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the killing but was himself shot dead by nightclub operator Jack Ruby before facing trial. The 1964 Warren Commission concluded Oswald acted alone, though conspiracy theories have persisted for decades.

The National Pulse reported in March, when President Donald J. Trump declassified and published the federal government’s remaining JFK files, that several documents suggest potential Russian KGB or U.S. CIA involvement. Intelligence memos in the JFK files reveal that the CIA came to believe with a high degree of confidence that a Soviet embassy officer in Mexico City who met with Oswald shortly before the assassination and reviewed his visa application was a man named Valeriy Vladimirovich Kostikov. Notably, Kostikov was not an actual diplomatic staffer but rather a high-ranking KGB official known for his expertise in targeted political assassinations and training of communist agitators and guerrilla movements across South and Central America.

However, other files brought renewed attention to the death of CIA operative Gary Underhill. According to the documents, an article published by the pro-Soviet, far-left Ramparts magazine reported that Underhill left Washington abruptly the day after Kennedy’s assassination. He traveled to the home of friends in New Jersey, displaying signs of distress. During his visit, Underhill reportedly confided in his friends that a small group within the CIA was responsible for the assassination, expressing fear for his safety and hinting at a possible need to leave the country.

Less than six months later, Underhill was discovered dead in his Washington apartment, with the coroner ruling the death a suicide.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 14, 2025
Crime

Ex-Naval Academy Student Indicted for ‘Mass Execution’ Threat After Charlie Kirk’s Assassination.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A former Naval Academy student was arrested for allegedly threatening a “mass execution” on social media following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jackson Fleming, federal prosecutors, and Naval Academy students.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The threat was allegedly posted on September 11 from Chesterton, Indiana, targeting the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with Jackson Fleming being formally indicted on October 8.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Honestly not that surprised I’ll be carrying out the mass execution of my peers in a couple,” Fleming allegedly posted on Jodel.

🎯IMPACT: The Naval Academy went on lockdown, resulting in two injuries, including one current student.

IN FULL

Jackson Fleming, a former Naval Academy student, was arrested in mid-September on one count of making a threat across state lines. Federal prosecutors, in an indictment filed last week, allege that Fleming threatened a “mass execution” on social media the day after Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated.

The alleged message, posted on September 11 from Fleming’s hometown of Chesterton, Indiana, stated: “Honestly not that surprised I’ll be carrying out the mass execution of my peers in a couple,” according to court documents. The post was reportedly made on Jodel, an app popular among college campuses for anonymous, hyper-local communication.

Authorities claim Fleming altered his IP address to make it appear as though he was on the Naval Academy campus at the time of the post, rather than in Indiana. The threat prompted a lockdown at the Naval Academy, during which two people were injured.

Fleming, who left the Naval Academy midway through his junior year, was indicted on October 8 for “interstate communications with a threat to injure” against the Annapolis, Maryland, school. He was released on a $20,000 bond, and his trial date has not yet been set.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 10, 2025
Culture
News

Trevor Noah Mocks Charlie Kirk’s ‘Funny’ Assassination.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Trevor Noah mocked the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk during a stand-up performance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Trevor Noah, Charlie Kirk, Dave Chappelle, and Jimmy Kimmel.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Noah made the remarks during a recent stand-up performance; Kirk was assassinated on September 10 at Utah Valley University.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The guy was shot while defending guns… I’m not even writing that as a joke. As a human, you have to admit that it is an incongruous, funny thing that happens. You’re onstage, like, ‘Let me tell you why people should have guns.’ Wa-pow!” Noah said, inaccurately.

🎯IMPACT: Noah’s comments sparked backlash, with critics pointing to double standards and insensitivity.

IN FULL

Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah is facing backlash for mocking the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk. Kirk was assassinated on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. During a stand-up performance, Noah complained that comedians were being advised not to “say anything about Charlie Kirk” because there was “nothing funny about it.”

“Now you tested me. I mean, there’s nothing funny about it? Don’t say that, because then I’ll be like, ‘I’m sure there’s something funny about it,’” he continued.

“The guy was shot while defending guns… I’m not even writing that as a joke. As a human, you have to admit that is an incongruous, funny thing that happens. “You’re onstage, like, ‘Let me tell you why people should have guns.’ Wa-pow!” he added—inaccurately, as Kirk was actually discussing transgender mass shooters when he was murdered.

Noah cast himself as a martyr for comedy following the resulting backlash, comparing the public’s anger at his remarks to historical jokes about President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and complaining that audiences shouldn’t be “terrorized” into silence.

However, critics have pointed to Noah’s recent praise for Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival, where he had lauded the sharia state as “moving in the right direction” on civil liberties, despite its severe blasphemy and censorship laws.

Noah is not the only alleged comedian under scrutiny. Jimmy Kimmel also faced criticism for falsely suggesting that Kirk’s assassin was affiliated with the MAGA movement. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has urged universities to sanction faculty who applauded the killing online.

Conservative activist Scott Presler claimed to have received over 51,000 tips identifying individuals, many of them teachers, who mocked Kirk’s death on social media. A website called “Charlie’s Murderers” was launched to document these posts, and some have reportedly been fired or disciplined in response.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 10, 2025
NatSec
World

Police Foil Islamist Plot to Kill European Prime Minister With Drone Bomb.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Authorities in Belgium arrested three people plotting a jihadist-inspired attack using drone-mounted explosives.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Three young adults were arrested, with Prime Minister Bart De Wever among the potential targets.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrests occurred in Antwerp, Belgium, and were announced on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Drones are a big problem. Islamism is too, but we’ve known that for a while.” – Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken

🎯IMPACT: The plot highlights the ongoing threat of Islamic terrorism and the potential misuse of drones in major Western cities.

IN FULL

Belgian authorities have arrested three suspects in Antwerp suspected of planning a jihadist-inspired attack involving drone-mounted explosives. The suspects were detained as part of an investigation into what federal prosecutors described as “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”

Federal prosecutor Ann Fransen confirmed the arrests but did not provide details on the intended targets. However, Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad reported that Prime Minister Bart De Wever was among those intended to be targeted in the attack.

During a search of one suspect’s residence, investigators discovered an improvised explosive device. At another location, a 3D printer was found, which is believed to have been used to produce parts for the planned attack.

Two suspects are currently being held for questioning by federal police and are expected to appear before an investigating judge. The third has been released. The alleged plan involved using drones to carry out attacks, raising alarms about the growing use of drones in terrorism.

Belgium’s defence minister, Theo Francken, responded to the news by posting on X, “Drones are a big problem. Islamism is too, but we’ve known that for a while.” His comments reflect broader concerns in Belgium, which has faced a series of high-profile terrorism cases in recent years. In 2023, for instance, a radicalized gunman killed two Swedish soccer fans in Brussels before being shot dead by police. The country has also seen instances of extremist rhetoric in public, including a rally in which an Islamist preacher shouted, “Allah, burn the Jews.”

The use of drones in terror plots is part of a growing trend worldwide. In the Sahel region of Africa, al-Qaeda-linked militants have carried out dozens of attacks using commercially available drones modified to carry explosives. Similarly, in Mexico, drug cartels have increasingly adopted drones as tools for both surveillance and combat, with hundreds of bomb-dropping drone attacks recorded over the past year. Cartels have even developed specialized drone units and first-person view (FPV) drone systems capable of precision strikes.

Image by Matt Christenson/BLM/2017.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
October 7, 2025
Crime
News

Transgender Who Tried to Assassinate Kavanaugh Denied Transfer to Women’s Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nicholas Roske, the transgender who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, wants to be placed in a women’s prison. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced it will appeal the eight-year sentence given to him.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Judge Deborah Boardman, and Nicholas Roske.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Senate hearing on Tuesday; sentencing occurred in federal court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “That’s not going to happen in the Bureau of Prisons now.” – Pam Bondi, regarding whether Nicholas Roske would be placed in a women’s prison.

🎯IMPACT: The DOJ is appealing the sentence, and Roske will not be placed in a women’s prison.

IN FULL

Attorney General Pam Bondi assured the Senate on Tuesday that Nicholas Roske, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, will not be serving his sentence in a women’s prison. “That’s not going to happen in the Bureau of Prisons now,” Bondi stated in response to concerns raised during a Senate hearing.

Roske was sentenced to just eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, who took into account Roske’s newly stated transgender identity. The Joe Biden appointee cited concerns that, under policies established during President Donald J. Trump’s administration, Roske might not have access to cross-sex hormone treatments in a men’s prison. Throughout the sentencing, Boardman referred to Roske using female pronouns, saying “she,” based on a statement from Roske’s attorneys that their client now identifies as a woman. However, no formal legal steps were taken to update court records or documentation to reflect this change.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) pressed Bondi during the hearing on whether Judge Boardman intended to see Roske housed in a women’s facility. Bondi firmly responded, “That’s not going to happen,” adding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to appeal the sentence, which she described as “diminutive.”

Roske’s claim of a transgender identity came after he was jailed for his crimes. He was arrested in June 2022 near Justice Kavanaugh’s home, armed with weapons and reportedly planning to kill him due to his views on abortion. Court documents also revealed that Roske had considered targeting other Supreme Court justices.

Recent reports reveal that up to 15 percent of inmates in federal women’s prisons are men who identify as women. There have been allegations of female prisoners being sexually assaulted or impregnated by transgender inmates placed in women’s facilities.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more