A Massachusetts man, armed with Molotov cocktails and a knife, confessed to police that he intended to “kill” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, after being arrested at the U.S. Capitol.
Massachusetts man arrested
Ryan Michael English turned himself in on Monday afternoon to U.S. Capitol Police.
Court documents indicate that English walked up to an officer stationed at the Capitol’s south door and declared, “I’d like to turn myself in.”
He then admitted to carrying weapons, including two Molotov cocktails.
Officers searched him and discovered two makeshift devices—vodka bottles topped with cloth wicks, soaked in hand sanitizer—a folding knife, and a lighter.
The police affidavit reveals that English initially set out to assassinate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, but changed his plans after a detour to a library in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
There, he read that the Senate was voting on Monday to confirm Bessent’s nomination as Treasury Secretary under President Donald Trump.
English allegedly considered throwing Molotov cocktails at Bessent’s feet. If that plan failed, he confessed to intending to stab the nominee if he could get close enough, the affidavit stated.
English explained to authorities that his Molotov cocktails contained vodka and hand sanitizer. He also disclosed that additional devices were inside his car.
During a search of the vehicle, police retrieved a bottle of 100-proof vodka and a sweatshirt with cut-off sleeves, presumably used to fashion the wicks.
Massachusetts man left note behind
Among English’s possessions was a receipt bearing a handwritten note that read, “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.”
The note continued, “I love you. This is awful. Im so sorry. I love u. Please stay alive and heal. you can. you are strong enough. [F—] them for pushing us so far. you dont deserve this. Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying. Please survive [7 hearts].”
Alarmingly, English revealed to law enforcement that his original plan also included targeting the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
He considered burning down their offices before focusing solely on Bessent.
English took measures to minimize detection, leaving his phone at home to avoid being tracked electronically.
A month earlier, he’d paid cash for an atlas to map his way to Washington, D.C., disguising his appearance when purchasing it, the affidavit stated.
Police added that English surveyed Capitol Hill ahead of his planned attack.
He calculated that he would have to kill at least three police officers to reach Bessent, according to his statement within the affidavit.
English further declared he was “at peace” with the possibility of being killed by law enforcement during the incident.
Facing serious legal charges, English has been accused of unlawfully possessing and transferring a firearm as well as carrying explosives and a weapon on Capitol grounds.
Homeless man with machete arrested at Capitol
His arrest is not the only troubling event involving weapons at the Capitol recently.
Earlier this year, another individual, identified as Mel Horne, was detained after attempting to enter the Capitol Visitor Center with weapons hidden in his belongings.
According to charging documents, Horne was carrying a brown backpack filled with dangerous items, including two folding knives, a box cutter, and a machete.
Horne reportedly told police he was homeless and intended to pay his respects to former President Jimmy Carter, whose body lay in state at the Capitol at the time.
Initially, Horne claimed he used the bladed items for landscaping work. His story unraveled when officers pointed out that snow had recently blanketed Washington.
Horne then admitted he was not coming from a landscaping job and instead carried the blades with him everywhere because of his homeless status.
He is now facing charges for carrying a dangerous weapon.
