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A Massachusetts resident received a 63-month prison sentence Tuesday for developing and attempting to execute a plan to assassinate Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Riley Jane English, 25, pleaded guilty in March to charges including unlawful firearm receipt and possession, as well as carrying weapons on Capitol grounds. Federal prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, had requested a minimum of 10 years in custody.
English arrived at the U.S. Capitol on January 27, 2025, the day Bessent faced Senate confirmation for his Treasury post under President Donald Trump. Upon approaching a Capitol Police officer near the South Door at approximately 3:12 p.m., English voluntarily surrendered and disclosed possession of a knife and two Molotov cocktails, which investigators later discovered alongside additional materials in English’s vehicle.
During police interrogations, English indicated the initial targets included House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with consideration given to attacking the Heritage Foundation. The focus shifted to Bessent after English observed him discussing federal minimum wage policy on television at a library in the Washington area, a statement that reportedly provoked anger.
English cited inspiration from Luigi Mangione and acknowledged second thoughts about the plot after witnessing legal consequences Mangione faced. Court documents reveal English later reconsidered the assassination plan upon recognizing heightened security measures and the potential for collateral civilian casualties at the Capitol.
A handwritten note recovered by authorities contained statements indicating remorse and mental distress, with English referencing concerns about vulnerable communities. English also admitted to police that self-harm at the White House represented a contingency plan if the assassination attempt proved impossible.
Pirro emphasized the importance of protecting government officials from intimidation, stating that threats against those in public service constitute a clear violation of law warranting prosecution to the maximum extent possible. Bessent, an openly gay man married to former New York City prosecutor John Freeman, was not harmed during the incident.
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