An armed California man was detained near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home in Maryland on Wednesday, The Washington Post reports.
The man, described as in his mid-20s, was detained after telling officers that he wanted to kill the justice.
The man did not make it onto Kavanaugh’s property but was stopped on a nearby street after police received a tip.
Police found at least one weapon and burglary tools.
The man “came in from out of state with the intent to kill Kavanaugh,” Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Shiera Goff said.
Suspect was angry over abortion decision:
Initial evidence suggests the man was angry about the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion signaling the court’s intent to strike down Roe v. Wade.
He was also angry over a recent spate of mass shootings, sources told the Post.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called on congressional leaders to speak out.
“I call on leaders in both parties in Washington to strongly condemn these actions in no uncertain terms,” Hogan said in the statement. “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.
Calls to boost security:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called on the House to pass a Senate bill boosting security protections for Supreme Court justices.
"House Democrats need to pass this bill and they need to do it today. No more fiddling around with this. They need to pass it today. They need to stop their multi-week blockade against this Supreme Court security bill and pass it before the sun sets today,” McConnell said after the incident.
“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,” added Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn.
