An armed man, who was plotting to kill President Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, has been arrested near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
Ryan Michael “Reily” English was arrested after showing up at the U.S. Capitol with knives and Molotov cocktails.
The Massachusetts man allegedly targeted some of Trump’s newly confirmed Cabinet members before settling on Bessent, the Post Millennial reported.
Shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday, English approached a Capitol Police Officer with an unusual admission that he had knives and incendiary devices.
“I’d like to turn myself in,” he told the officer.
A search of his person turned up a folding knife and two 50 mL bottles of vodka tucked into his jacket pockets.
Each bottle was topped with a cloth soaked in hand sanitizer.
English also had a lighter on him at the time.
His vehicle contained other knives, Molotov cocktails, and a gray sweatshirt, which the strips of fabric for the toppers were cut from.
English settled on killing Bessent, who was confirmed on Monday as Trump’s Treasury Secretary.
However, English admitted that had initially set his sights on other Trump officials.
English left home Sunday, bound for Washington D.C. with ill intent.
He was intent on murdering “‘Nazi’ Secretary of Defense, Peter Hegseth, and/or the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and/or burning down the Heritage Foundation,” the affidavit said.
“These actions were specifically to ‘depose’ these political offices and send a message,” the document added.
However, after seeing on Reddit that Bessent was about to be confirmed that day, English changed his plans.
“Originally, English’s thoughts were to use the small bottles of vodka to start fires and later to wrap them in rags soaked in alcohol, light them, and throw them at Bessent’s feet,” the affidavit noted.
The document also notes that “in the event English was able to get close enough to Bessent, English would have stabbed him with the knife that English brought from home.”
English understood that he “would have to kill, at least, three US Capitol Police Officers to get to Bessent and kill him,” the legal filing added.
He knew carrying out this plan would put him “in grave danger and expressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop” and proceeded anyway.
English is being held for violations including “Unlawful Receipt, Possession, and/or Transfer of a Firearm” and “Carrying a Firearm, Dangerous Weapon, Explosive, or Incendiary Device on the Grounds of the Capitol.”
Yet, as serious as this situation is, it’s clear it could have been much worse.
English turned himself in before he could hurt anyone, which was a relief.
However, evidence found on him indicates that he was headed down a path that could have changed the course of American history.
A chilling note was recovered from English’s back pocket that had the fatalistic tone of a kamikaze.
Although it’s unclear who the recipient is, it appears English was ready to unleash harm on officials even if it meant death for him.
“Judith dear god I am so sorry,” English reportedly scribbled on a receipt.
“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. I love you.
“This is awful. Im so sorry. I love u.
“Please stay alive and heal. you can. you are strong enough.
“F*ck them for pushing us so far. you dont deserve this.
“Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying.
“Please survive,” he ended the note, adding seven hearts.
There is a growing threat to officials in no small part because of the constant barrage of attacks from the corporate media.
English was thwarted, but it only takes one person to be successful at one of these attempts, and that’s frightening.