By A Massachusetts man was arrested on Monday after allegedly bringing Molotov cocktails and knives to the U.S. Capitol with the intent to assassinate Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and two recently confirmed Cabinet members, according to multiple reports.
Ryan English, who apparently goes by “they/them” pronouns, surrendered to Capitol Police, admitting he was carrying two Molotov cocktails made from small vodka bottles filled with hand sanitizer and stuffed with cloth. Authorities also discovered knives in his possession, as outlined in court documents, writes ABC News.
Ryan English allegedly approached officers outside the Capitol on Monday and said, “I’d like to turn myself in,” and then told the officers they were in possession of knifes and two Molotov cocktails, according to charging documents. Officers searched English’s clothes and found a folding knife, a lighter and two 50 milliliter bottles of vodka with a cloth on top.
English told officers they were there to “Kill Scott Bessent,” who was confirmed by the Senate on Monday as the new treasury secretary. English also had a note stating, “This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters,” according to charging documents.
After English was taken into custody, English told officers they traveled to Washington, D.C., from Massachusetts on Sunday with the intention of killing Johnson and/or Hegseth, whom English called a “Nazi,” documents said. They also expressed a desire to burn down the conservative Heritage Foundation, documents said.
On the way to D.C., English stopped at a library in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and saw Reddit posts mentioning Bessent’s confirmation hearing, which “altered” their plans, according to the charging documents.
Prosecutors reported that English left his home in Massachusetts on Sunday, initially planning to target Speaker Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, noted Politico. After learning that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s confirmation vote was scheduled for Monday, English reportedly added Bessent to his list of targets.
English has been charged with unlawful transportation of a firearm and bringing an incendiary device into the Capitol. No injuries were reported, though the incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of security measures around government buildings.
On a Tuesday, the U.S. Capitol Police told Newsweek in a statement: “Yesterday at approximately 3:15 p.m., 24-year-old Ryan M. English of Rhode Island approached a USCP officer outside on the east plaza, near the south door of the U.S. Capitol Building. English admitted to having two Molotov cocktails and two knives.
“USCP K9s swept and cleared the area, while other USCP officers and agents tracked down English’s car along the 900 block of Independence Avenue, SW. Investigators uncovered materials to make additional Molotov cocktails inside the vehicle. English was arrested for Unlawful Activities, among other potential charges. The case is currently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” the statement said.
Peter Campopiano, a special agent with the Capitol Police, said in a criminal complaint signed Tuesday: “After conducting surveillance of U.S. Capitol Grounds, English surmised that English would have to kill, at least, three U.S. Capitol Police Officers to get to Bessent and kill him. English recognized that English’s actions were likely to put English in grave danger and expressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop.”
This arrest comes during a period of heightened political tensions and ongoing concerns about the safety of public officials.
Liberal men have become increasingly violent over the past few years. A poll 2022 reveals that a significant number of young, male Democrats, like the individual arrested near Justice Kavanaugh’s home, support the idea of assassinating politicians, with 44 percent expressing agreement. Younger Republican women followed closely, with 40 percent approving. In contrast, individuals aged 50 and older, regardless of party or gender, overwhelmingly disapproved of political assassination.
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