Corporate media outlets drew criticism over the weekend for describing the would-be assassin of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as a woman after the defendant received an eight-year prison sentence.
Nicholas Roske, who now goes by the name Sophia, was sentenced to eight years in prison on Friday after being found guilty of plotting an assassination, according to the sentencing order.
Prosecutors had recommended a 30-year sentence.
Reports and social media posts from several outlets described Roske as female.
NBC News posted on X: “A woman who pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh three years ago was sentenced to more than eight years in prison.” The phrasing prompted immediate pushback online.
Libby Emmons, editor-in-chief of The Post Millennial, responded on X that news reports failed to accurately identify Roske’s sex.
“NBC News should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Nicholas Roske was no ‘woman’ when he showed up to murder Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh and he’s no woman now,” she commented.
NBC News should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Nicholas Roske was no "woman" when he showed up to murder Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh and he's no woman now. pic.twitter.com/PLxhj9pCyw
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) October 4, 2025
Other outlets used similar language in initial headlines or coverage.
CBC published, “California woman sentenced to more than 8 years over plot to kill Supreme Court justice.”
A Fox News contributor on air used “she” and “her” when referring to Roske after the sentencing.
Fox News LIES about Justice Kavanaugh would-be assassin Nicholas Roske—calls him "SHE/HER" throughout their report.
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) October 4, 2025
STOP LYING! pic.twitter.com/kxBxe9GAGd
CNN headlined its story, “Person who admitted to trying to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh is sentenced to more than 8 years in prison,” and in the body of the article wrote that Roske “identifies as a woman.”
The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, a judge appointed during the Biden-Harris administration.
Court filings showed prosecutors sought 30 years. The final judgment imposed eight years in prison.
The case drew renewed national attention as the Trump administration signaled plans to appeal the sentence.
The written order accompanying the sentence described the conduct and intent at issue in the case.
“The defendant’s actions and intent — which were determined, focused, and undeterred for months — were extremely dangerous to the lives of multiple sitting judges, their family members, and the Constitutional judicial order.”
The court’s filing further stated, “The sentence imposed in this case must send the powerful message, both to the defendant and to others who contemplate committing assassination to obstruct judicial independence, that these ends never justify the means and that the consequences are not worth engaging in these acts.”
Roske’s case stems from a 2022 plot targeting Justice Kavanaugh at his Maryland residence.
Authorities said the defendant traveled with a firearm and other items and contacted emergency services before being taken into custody near the justice’s home. Subsequent proceedings resulted in a conviction and Friday’s sentencing.
The reaction to coverage centered on how legacy outlets described Roske’s gender identity and whether headlines and captions clearly conveyed the facts of the case.
Critics said the use of female descriptors was misleading given Roske’s sex at birth and the details of the 2022 incident. Supporters of the language noted that some outlets opted for gender-neutral terms such as “person,” while others reported that Roske identifies as a woman.
The eight-year sentence contrasted with the government’s request for a longer term. While prosecutors argued that the planning and stated intent warranted a 30-year sentence, the court concluded that eight years, followed by supervision, was appropriate based on the record.
The order emphasized deterrence and the protection of judicial independence in setting the penalty.
As of the weekend, outlets updated some headlines and social posts while retaining references to Roske’s stated gender identity within articles.
The case remains under public scrutiny due to the target — a sitting Supreme Court justice — and the ongoing debate over language used in crime reporting.
Officials did not release new details on additional conditions of confinement.
Further filings related to any appeal are expected to be made through the standard docketing process.
