Two miniature vodka bottles, strips of gray cloth, a folding knife—and a plan to kill one of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees.
That is what federal authorities said Riley Jane English brought to Washington before abandoning an assassination plot against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and surrendering to police.
English, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was sentenced Tuesday to 73 months—six years and one month—in federal prison.
The sentence was two years below the bottom of the recommended range and four years shorter than the 121-month term sought by federal prosecutors.
Federal records identify the defendant as Ryan Michael English, while defense filings use the name Riley Jane English.
English pleaded guilty March 26 to one count of unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm and one count of carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on Capitol grounds.
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, also imposed three years of supervised release.
“The offense is very serious,” Contreras said at the sentencing, according to Fox News.
But the judge concluded that the federal sentencing range of 97 to 121 months was too severe.
Contreras noted that no one was injured, the makeshift firebombs probably would not have ignited and English surrendered before getting close to Bessent. The judge called the plan “basically impossible to succeed.”
The probation department had recommended a five-year prison term. English has already spent roughly 20 months in custody and will receive credit for that time.
English’s bizarre path to the Capitol began in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, on Jan. 26, 2025.
According to Roll Call, English traveled without a cellphone and used a road atlas for navigation. The original plans reportedly included killing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or House Speaker Mike Johnson and possibly burning down the conservative Heritage Foundation.
The target changed after English stopped at a library in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and learned that Bessent was facing a Senate confirmation vote.
A clip of Bessent discussing the federal minimum wage allegedly pushed English over the edge.
“He said it with a smile on his face and that got under my skin,” English later told investigators, according to court records cited by Fox News.
English reportedly went to Capitol Hill planning to throw the Molotov cocktails at Bessent’s feet or stab the Treasury nominee if an opportunity emerged.
But the plan began unraveling almost immediately.
The security presence was far greater than English expected. There were also concerns that bystanders, including people who had nothing to do with the intended targets, could be injured.
At approximately 3:12 p.m. on Jan. 27, English approached a Capitol Police officer near the building’s South Door.
“I’d like to turn myself in,” English said.
Officers searched English and recovered a folding knife, a green lighter and two improvised incendiary devices from the defendant’s jacket.
The devices were made from 50-milliliter Absolut vodka bottles. Each had a strip of gray cloth attached to the top and soaked in alcohol-based hand sanitizer, according to the Justice Department.
Police later searched English’s car, parked near Independence Avenue, and found a 750-milliliter bottle of 100-proof vodka and a gray sweatshirt with fabric cut from its sleeves.
When investigators asked English to explain the intended target, the answer was unmistakable.
“I was going to kill Scott Bessent,” English said.
Investigators also found a handwritten note referring to “nazis” killing “my sisters” and apologizing for “lying and plotting.”
English told investigators that the plot had been influenced in part by Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. But English also said Mangione’s imprisonment prompted second thoughts about throwing away a life for a brief act of vengeance.
At sentencing, English apologized for causing fear and blamed an unstable mental state.
“I never wanted to hurt anyone,” English told Contreras, according to Fox News.
The judge said English’s physical and mental-health problems had been worsened by drug use but noted the defendant’s progress toward sobriety while in custody.
English’s attorneys asked that the defendant be sent to a women’s federal prison. Contreras said he would forward that request to the Bureau of Prisons, which will ultimately determine where English serves the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro responded to the sentence by warning that threats against government officials would bring serious consequences.
“My office will not tolerate attempts to intimidate or harm public officials,” Pirro said in the DOJ announcement.
“The defendant is now a convicted felon,” she added, “and is headed where he belongs: prison.”
