Tipsheet

Armed California Man Seeking to Kill Justice Kavanaugh Arrested Near Justice's Home

Spencer Brown
Spencer Brown  |  June 08, 2022 10:55 AM

See below for update.

An armed California man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home between 1:00 and 2:00 am Wednesday and allegedly told law enforcement he wanted to kill the Supreme Court justice, according to reporting from multiple sources that was confirmed by the Supreme Court on Wednesday. 

According to SCOTUSblog, a spokesperson for the Court confirmed that "At approximately 1:50 a.m. today, a man was arrested near Justice Kavanaugh's residence. The man was armed and made threats against Justice Kavanaugh." 

Sources who spoke with The Washington Post provided additional details: 

The man was reportedly carrying "at least one weapon" when he was confronted by authorities. WaPo's report was sparse on specific details, but what was reported is damning in light of the White House's refusal to condemn protests targeting justices private homes:

The individual, described as a man in his mid-20s, was found to be carrying at least one weapon and burglary tools, these people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Police were apparently notified that the person might pose a threat to the justice, but it was not immediately clear who provided the initial tip, these people said. The man apparently did not make it on to Kavanaugh’s property in Montgomery County, but he was stopped on a nearby street, these people said.

Two people familiar with the investigation said the initial evidence indicates the man was angry about the leaked draft of an opinion by the Supreme Court signaling the court is preparing to overturn Roe. v. Wade, the 49-year-old decision that guaranteed a person’s constitutional right to have an abortion. He was also angry over a recent spate of mass shootings, those people said.

Before she left for her MSNBC gig, then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tried to brush off leftists targeting originalist Supreme Court Justices' homes as just a result of "women across the country [who] are worried about their fundamental rights." 

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After several justices' homes were subsequently targeted and violent threats escalated, the White House's Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted a too-little, too-late clarification that President Biden only supports peaceful protests. 

The arrest of a man with at least one weapon who proclaimed his desire to kill Justice Kavanaugh over the leaked SCOTUS opinion that showed Roe v. Wade being overturned follows violent attacks against pro-life organizations as the left's rhetoric — and actions — against conservatives continue to escalate. 

UPDATE:

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) reacted to the news:

As did Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), whose bipartisan bill to enhance security for Supreme Court justices has been stalled by Democrats in the House of Representatives.

“The arrest of this individual proves these threats to the Justices’ lives are horrifyingly real, and it’s unconscionable for House Democrats to leave their families without police protection for even one more day,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Speaker Pelosi must keep the House in session until they pass my bill. Every day they don’t the threat to the Justices grows, the potential for tragedy becomes more likely, and House Democrats achieve a new apex of political dysfunction.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.