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Judge Sentences Ryan English to 73 Months

8/19/2026

44 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced Ryan English to 73 months for killing Secretary Scott Bessent.
English turned himself in on Jan. 27, 2025, with a knife, Molotov cocktails and a lighter.
Two 50-ml vodka bottles with cloth were found, which the judge said were unlikely to ignite.
English considered House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Heritage Foundation before switching to Bessent after a TV clip.
The judge credited English with 20 months served.

History

Historical Context

On April 19, 1995, anti-government extremist Timothy McVeigh, aided by Terry Nichols, detonated a truck bomb at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people. The attack, driven by anger over the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff and the 1993 Waco siege, spurred the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and tighter security for federal facilities.

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Story summary

Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced Ryan English to 73 months for killing Secretary Scott Bessent.
English turned himself in on Jan. 27, 2025, with a knife, Molotov cocktails and a lighter.
Two 50-ml vodka bottles with cloth were found, which the judge said were unlikely to ignite.
English considered House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Heritage Foundation before switching to Bessent after a TV clip.
The judge credited English with 20 months served.

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