Armed man arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home

By Joe Bukuras

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 8, 2022 / 10:20 am

A Supreme Court spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that an armed man was arrested after threatening Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.

“At approximately 1:50 a.m. today, a man was arrested near Justice Kavanaugh’s residence,” the court’s public information officer, Patricia McCabe, said in a statement. “The man was armed and made threats against Justice Kavanaugh. He was transported to Montgomery County Police 2nd District.”

The Washington Post reported sources as saying that the man, appearing to be in his mid-20s, is from California and told police that he wanted to kill Kavanaugh.

Those anonymous sources also told the Post that he was carrying at least one weapon. He also carried “burglary tools,” they told the Post.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the man had a gun and a knife in his possession.

The man, who did not make it to Kavanaugh’s house, was arrested on a street near the justice’s property in Montgomery County, Maryland, sources told the Post. 

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan released a statement Wednesday saying that he had been briefed about the threat to Kavanaugh and his family, while thanking local, state, and federal authorities for their protection of the justice.

“The heightened security at the homes of the justices began after a request [Virginia] Governor Youngkin and I made to Attorney General Garland last month,” the Republican governor said. “We will continue to partner with both federal and local law enforcement officials to help ensure these residential areas are secure.”

“I call on leaders in both parties in Washington to strongly condemn these actions in no uncertain terms,” Hogan added. “It is vital to our constitutional system that the justices be able to carry out their duties without fear of violence against them and their families.”

Sources told the Post that the man may have been angry about a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that suggested that the court could overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that legalized abortion nationwide. 

The sources also told the Post that the man was angry over the recent mass shootings across the country.

This is a developing story.

Joseph Bukuras is a journalist at the Catholic News Agency.  Joe has prior experience working in state and federal government, in non-profits, and Catholic education. He has contributed to an array of publications and his reporting has been cited by leading news sources, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Catholic University of America. He is based out of the Boston area.