A Massachusetts man was charged on Thursday with the attempted assassination of a Cabinet member nominee and carrying a dangerous weapon on the Capitol grounds after being arrested in late January.
Ryan English, 24, brought two Molotov cocktails and a knife onto the property in an effort to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prior to his confirmation, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He was found in possession of 50 milliliter bottles of vodka with a grey cloth affixed to its top and a green lighter. A letter in his pocked was also addressed to a family member that said, in part, “This is terrible but I can’t do nothing while nazis kill my sisters…I’m so sorry for lying and plotting and lying.”
Authorities said English originally planned to target House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but shifted course when he realized Bessent’s confirmation hearing coincided with his visit to the Capitol.
He is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon or incendiary device on the grounds of the Capitol and unlawful possession of an incendiary device as a result of the incident.
English admitted to traveling to the District of Columbia with the intention of killing a government official or burning down a think-tank based in Washington, D.C., according to the DOJ.
He is currently in police custody and had an initial court appearance on Thursday.
A detention hearing has been scheduled.
