WASHINGTON DC — English arrived at the Capitol on January 27, 2025, but Scott Bessent was not present when she entered the complex. Investigators found a folding knife, two homemade firebombs, and a lighter in her possession during the incident, though nobody was injured.

Assistant US Attorney Brendan Horan said English had been planning the 'attempted political assassination' for at least a month. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of 10 years and one month, arguing the act threatened democratic institutions.

US District Judge Rudolph Contreras stated that English's plan to harm Bessent had an 'exceedingly low or nonexistent' chance of success. He noted that the Molotov cocktails appeared incapable of igniting and said, 'There was no indication that she was acting rationally that day.'

Defense attorney Maria Jacob argued that English was experiencing a mental health crisis rather than acting on political ideology. Jacob said English was 'terrified and traumatized' by fears regarding the treatment of transgender people under the second Trump administration. She added, 'Our argument is that she was in a diminished mental state.' She described English's actions as 'a cry for help' driven by fear rather than malice.

English told US District Judge Rudolph Contreras, 'I never wanted to hurt anyone. I’m not a political person. I’m not a violent person.' She also said she was in the grips of a mental health crisis and abusing drugs when she drove to Washington in January 2025.

English told officers she was terminally ill and 'wanted to do something before I go,' according to prosecutors. She also stated she was influenced by Luigi Mangione, who was charged with fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.

Contreras acknowledged the defendant's background, telling her, 'You’ve had a very difficult life. Hopefully, the progress you’ve made in jail to this date has set you on the right path.' English has remained jailed since her arrest and will receive credit for nearly 20 months already spent in custody.

English pleaded guilty in March to two weapons charges. The sentencing concluded a case that drew attention due to the high-profile nature of the intended target and the location of the attempted attack.

Timeline

On January 27, 2025, Riley English arrived at the US Capitol. She told Capitol police she intended to kill US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the day of his Senate confirmation. During interviews, she told officers she was terminally ill and 'wanted to do something before I go,' according to prosecutors.

English told police she traveled from Massachusetts to Washington intending to kill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, and to burn down the Heritage Foundation. She also told police she was influenced by Luigi Mangione, who was charged with fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Scott Bessent was not at the Capitol when English arrived.

Investigators found a folding knife, two homemade firebombs, and a lighter in her possession at the Capitol. Police stated that English changed her target to Scott Bessent after reading an internet post about his confirmation hearing.

What's New

Additional reporting reveals that Scott Bessent wrote in a letter to the judge that he worries the country 'cannot survive this assault.' Bessent wrote, 'Political violence is an attack on the rule of law and on representative government itself.' He further wrote that political violence 'deprives our country of service by talented men and women with ability and integrity who may reasonably decide that no job is worth threats to themselves and their families.'

The case against English drew comparisons to the case against Sophie Roske, who was sentenced to over eight years in prison for attempting to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Records show that English pleaded guilty in March to two weapons charges.

Why It Matters

The sentencing shows the ongoing challenges federal courts face in addressing politically motivated violence against government officials. Scott Bessent is the first openly gay person to lead the U.S. Treasury Department and the highest-ranking LGBTQ government official in U.S. history, making him a prominent figure in national politics. The case reflects the security risks faced by cabinet members during confirmation processes and the broader implications of targeted threats against public servants.

The judicial response balanced the severity of the intended act with the defendant's mental state and the practical impossibility of the plan. By imposing a sentence lower than the prosecution's recommendation, the court recognized the role of mental health crises in such incidents while still holding the defendant accountable for weapons charges. This outcome contributes to the legal precedent for handling cases where ideological motivation intersects with personal instability.