Story perspectives

Judge Sentences Riley Jane English to 63 Months

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced Riley Jane English to 63 months for plotting to kill Secretary-designate Scott Bessent.
After pleading guilty on March 26, English faced prosecutors led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro who sought a 121-month term and supervised release.
On Jan. 27, 2025, English traveled to Washington, shifted her target from House Speaker Mike Johnson to Bessent, and police found a knife when she said, “I was going to kill Scott Bessent.”

1 of 1

Story summary

Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced Riley Jane English to 63 months for plotting to kill Secretary-designate Scott Bessent.
After pleading guilty on March 26, English faced prosecutors led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro who sought a 121-month term and supervised release.
On Jan. 27, 2025, English traveled to Washington, shifted her target from House Speaker Mike Johnson to Bessent, and police found a knife when she said, “I was going to kill Scott Bessent.”