Letters to the Editor | Oct. 10, 2025

Sophie Roske, a transgender woman, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for her 2022 plot to assassinate conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Prosecutors had sought a minimum sentence of 30 years.

Judge Deborah Boardman explained that Roske voluntarily abandoned her assassination plan, expressed remorse, had no prior criminal record, and was experiencing a mental health crisis.

Boardman also questioned whether Roske would receive adequate mental health treatment in prison, citing President Donald Trump’s executive order banning gender-affirming care for federal inmates.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and conservative media outlets like the New York Post and the National Review have expressed outrage over the eight-year sentence.

By their standards, the scores of rioters who breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, while chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” should have been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison. After all, they were domestic terrorists who attempted to execute the vice president. Instead, they have all been pardoned by President Trump.

Appallingly, in an interview with Jonathan Karl of ABC News, Trump defended the Jan. 6 rioters’ “Hang Mike Pence!” chants.

Trump asserted: “Well, the people were very angry … It’s common sense, Jon. It’s common sense that you’re supposed to protect. How can you, if you know a vote is fraudulent, right, how can you pass on a fraudulent vote to Congress?”

How can anyone claim to oppose political violence while supporting a person who pardoned Jan. 6 rioters who assaulted police officers and publicly defended their violent chants?

Terry Hansen, Milwaukee

As we near Election Day, and New Jerseyans weigh the gubernatorial candidates, cancer survivors across the state are urging both former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill to focus on one long-overdue issue: closing the casino smoking loophole.

In January, it will be 20 years since lawmakers passed the Smoke-Free Air Act, yet casino workers and patrons are still forced to breathe toxic secondhand smoke every day. The next governor has the chance — and the responsibility — to finally end indoor smoking in New Jersey.

This issue touches everyone because cancer touches everyone. About half of all men and a third of all women will face a cancer diagnosis, many linked to preventable environmental factors like secondhand smoke.

I urge Assemblyman Ciattarelli and Rep. Sherrill to recognize this as an opportunity, should they be elected, and boldly commit to protecting the health and lives of New Jerseyans.

Nicole Bodnar, Sewell

I strongly disagree with The Inquirer Editorial Board’s support for the current government shutdown. It is inconceivable to me that there would be any reason whatsoever that the board would advocate for this tactic if the political parties in power were reversed. I think it is dangerous to have this tactic normalized. Sen. John Fetterman is right — it is a sad day for our nation.

Robert Palaima, Ambler

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