NEW: Man Arrested At Capitol Planned To Kill Trump Nominee, Police Say
A Massachusetts man, Ryan Michael “Reily” English, was arrested at the U.S. Capitol on Monday after he voluntarily turned himself in, armed with Molotov cocktails and a knife. According to authorities, English had a mission: to assassinate newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
English, 31, approached a Capitol Police officer at approximately 3:12 p.m., declaring his intentions and admitting to carrying weapons, court documents reveal. The shocking encounter triggered a swift response from law enforcement, leading to his immediate detention.
Officers discovered two makeshift Molotov cocktails constructed from Absolut vodka bottles and cloth soaked in hand sanitizer, along with a knife and a lighter. Authorities also conducted a search of English’s vehicle, parked near Independence Avenue.
Inside, they found additional evidence, including a larger bottle of vodka and a sweatshirt with fabric consistent with the materials used to make the incendiary devices. The affidavit filed by Special Agent Peter Campopiano described English’s homemade weapons as illegal under federal law, classifying them as destructive devices.
While the arrest occurred without incident, English’s alleged motivations and preparation revealed a disturbing depth of planning. According to the affidavit, English admitted to traveling from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., with the intent to kill several high-profile government officials.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives for a meeting with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on December 10, 2024.
Initially, his targets were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, (R-LA), before he shifted focus to Bessent after reading Reddit posts about the Treasury Secretary’s confirmation hearings.
English reportedly left his phone at home to avoid detection and navigated to D.C. using an atlas he purchased in cash while concealing his identity. His detailed confession outlined his intent to use the Molotov cocktails to start fires and, if given the opportunity, to stab Bessent. He also admitted he would have been prepared to kill Capitol Police officers to reach his target, stating he anticipated the possibility of “suicide by cop.”
Before being transported, officers conducted a search of English and found a receipt in the back left pocket of his pants. Written on the back of the receipt was a message.
“Judith dear god I am so sorry. You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly b/c of my heart. This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters. I love you. This is awful. Im so sorry. I love u. Please stay alive and heal. you can. you are strong enough. F*ck them for pushing us so far. you dont deserve this. Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying. Please survive [7 hearts],” Enlish wrote.
Special Agent Campopiano noted in the affidavit that English was aware of the illegality of his actions, admitting that he did not register the destructive devices with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as required by law. The affidavit further detailed that English seemed to view his actions as a form of political protest, describing his targets as “Nazis” and seeking to “depose” them from power.
Bessent was confirmed as Treasury Secretary just hours before the arrest. The vote was 68-29.