Full Breakdown
Massachusetts Transgender Defendant Sentenced for Plot to Kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
8/19/2026, 5:54:49 AM
Core Event
On January 27, 2025, Riley English (identified in federal records as Ryan Michael English), a 26-year-old transgender woman from South Deerfield, Massachusetts, approached a U.S. Capitol Police officer and declared, “I’d like to turn myself in.” English told officers she was carrying a folding knife and two improvised Molotov cocktails made from 50-ml vodka bottles soaked in hand sanitizer. She admitted she intended to assassinate Treasury Secretary-designate Scott Bessent, whose Senate confirmation vote was scheduled that afternoon. English was arrested, charged, and later pleaded guilty to unlawful receipt of a firearm and to carrying a dangerous weapon and incendiary device on Capitol grounds.
Timeline
- January 27, 2025 – English turns herself in; officers recover the knife, two Molotov-style devices, and a lighter.
- March 26, 2025 – English enters a guilty plea to the two federal counts.
- August 18, 2026 – U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras sentences English to 73 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, granting credit for roughly 20 months already served.
Data & Statistics
- Sentence: 73 months imprisonment; three years supervised release.
- Credit: ~20 months of time already served counted toward the term.
- Weapons seized: one folding knife, two 50-ml vodka bottles configured as Molotov cocktails, one green lighter. A larger 750-ml vodka bottle and a grey sweatshirt were later found in English’s vehicle.
- Prosecutorial request: 10 years and one month (121 months).
- Age reports: sources list English as 24, 25, or 26 years old.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Attorney [Name omitted] reiterated that the defendant is now a convicted felon and “headed where he belongs: prison.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a letter to the court, warned that the nation “cannot survive this assault” and described political violence as an attack on the rule of law. Judge Rudolph Contreras noted English’s “very difficult life” and expressed hope that custody would set her on a better path. He also described the plot’s chance of success as “exceedingly low or non-existent” because the Molotov devices appeared incapable of igniting and Bessent was not present at the Capitol.
Why It Matters
The case occurs amid a documented rise in politically motivated threats investigated by Capitol Police in 2025, including a 57.7 percent increase in tip volume. Officials say such plots undermine confidence in democratic institutions and deter qualified individuals from public service.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sentence length: Most sources report 73 months, while a Fox News article lists 63 months.
- Age of the defendant: Reported ages vary between 24, 25, and 26.
- Name usage: Outlets refer to the defendant as Riley English, Ryan Michael English, or Raleigh Jane English.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My office will not tolerate attempts to intimidate or harm public officials that strike at the heart of our democratic process and are antithetical to the values we all depend on,” — U.S. Attorney
- “You’ve had a very difficult life,” — Rudolph Contreras, district judge
- “This was not a chance encounter or an impulsive act,” — Brendan Horan, attorney
- “Our argument is that she was in a diminished mental state,” — Maria Jacob, defense attorney
- “I love my country, I love my family, and I live my life; I never wanted to hurt anyone,” — Riley English
