A federal judge appointed by President Biden is facing fierce criticism after handing down a surprisingly lenient sentence to the individual convicted of attempting to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman sentenced Nicholas Roskeâwho now identifies as a transgender woman named Sophieâto just eight years in prison for the 2022 assassination attempt. This is far less than the 30 years the Department of Justice had sought.
Boardman cited mitigating factors such as Roskeâs spontaneous confession, cooperation with police, and expressed remorse during the sentencing hearing. However, conservatives on social media have erupted in outrage over the perceived softness of the punishment and Roskeâs gender identity.
âThis is a national disgrace,â wrote conservative lawyer Mike Davis, highlighting the contrast between the sentence and the DOJâs request. Other critics called for Boardmanâs removal from the bench and condemned what they saw as political correctness influencing the ruling.
The Justice Department has already announced plans to appeal the sentence, calling it âwoefully insufficientâ for such a grave attack on the judiciary.
The case has sparked heated debates about justice, mental health, gender identity, and political bias within the court system. Roskeâs defense team argued that mental health struggles and remorse warranted a lighter sentence, while the prosecution and many members of the public feel justice has not been served.
