Transgender defendant who sought to ‘kill Scott Bessent’ sentenced to more than 6 years in prison

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A biological male who identifies as a woman was sentenced to 73 months (6 years and 1 month) Tuesday for a plot to “kill”Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Prosecutors sought at least 10 years in prison for Riley Jane English, who was identified by the Justice Department as Ryan Michael English.

U.S.District Judge Rudolf Contreras, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, sentenced English after a guilty plea to two counts related to the attempt to kill Bessent and carrying a dangerous weapon on the grounds of the Capitol on Jan.27, 2025.

“The offense is very serious,” said Contreras, adding that “Miss English” was concerned with “trans rights” and came to the Capitol with a folding knife and two small Molotov cocktails, “which probably would not have ignited.”

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifying

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was the target of a transgender domestic terrorist, who pled guilty in a plot to assassinate him.(SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Contreras said English is a 26-year-old trans woman who has many physical and mental health issues which were exacerbated by drug usage.

The calculation for the sentencing range was 97 to 121 months, and Department of Justice prosecutor Brendan Horan asked for a sentence at the top end of the suggested range, but Contreras said he believed the range was too high.

“No one was harmed,” the judge said Tuesday.“The plan was basically impossible to succeed, and she turned herself in before it came anywhere near fruition.”

Contreras also noted that the probation department recommended a sentence of 60 months.English has served roughly 20 months in prison already and will get credit for that time served, as well as three years of probation after the sentence.

“You’ve had a very difficult life with a lot of challenges,” Contreras told English.“You’re young, you still have a significant portion of your life.Good luck to you.”

The defense team requested that English be placed in a female prison.Contreras said he would pass the request to the Bureau of Prisons.

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A photo shows writings on the arms of Ryan Michael English at the time of booking.(Justice Department)

“My office will not tolerate attempts to intimidate or harm public officials that strike at the heart of our democratic process and are antithetical to the values we all depend on,” U.S.Attorney Pirro wrote in a statement.“The defendant is now a convicted felon and is headed where he belongs: prison.”

English wore an orange jumpsuit and glasses, with mid-length blonde hair.

“I love my country, I love my family, and I live my life;I never wanted to hurt anyone,” English told Judge Contreras before the sentence was delivered.“At times I can’t explain the mental state that I’m in.

“I’m sorry for the fear I caused the country and my family,” English added.“I have a lot on my plate with an upcoming surgery.I want a chance to work and start a family of my own.I’m grateful for the opportunity to get sober and get right in my mind.”

English pleaded guilty March 26 to unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm and carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on the grounds of the U.S.Capitol.

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“I was going to kill Scott Bessent,” English told police, who repeated the question back, asking, “Kill Scott Bessent?”

“Yes, sir,” English confirmed.

English, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, “had been thinking about this for a while because of Luigi Mangione,” according to a statement to police, prosecutors said.

TheJustice Departmentsaid English traveled from Massachusetts to the Washington area Jan.27, 2025, intending to kill a government official or burn down a Washington think tank.English ultimately focused on Bessent, who was being confirmed by the Senate that day as President Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary.

“Our system of justice depends on public officials being able to carry out their duties free from intimidation and fear,” Pirro wrote in a statement announcing English’s guilty plea in March.

“This defendant’s threats crossed a clear legal line, and today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to protecting those who serve.Anyone who threatens violence against government officials will be identified, charged, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

At about 3:12 p.m.ET on Jan.27, 2025, English approached a U.S.Capitol Police officer near theSouth Door of the Capitoland said, “I’d like to turn myself in.”

English told the officer about a knife and two Molotov cocktails.Police found a folding knife, two 50-milliliter Absolut vodka bottles with gray cloth attached to the tops and a lighter, according to court records.Investigators later found additional vodka and material matching the cloth used in the incendiary devices inside English’s vehicle.

English told investigators that the original targets included House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and that English had also considered burning downthe Heritage Foundation, according to court filings.The target shifted to Bessent after English saw him on television while stopping at a library in the Washington area.

English told police that a clip of Bessent discussing the federal minimum wage had sparked anger.

“He said it with a smile on his face and that got under my skin,” English told investigators, according to court records.

English allegedly admitted to going to the Capitol intending to wait for Bessent but abandoned the plan after seeing the security presence and realizing other people could be harmed.

Police also recovered a handwritten note in which they said English had written, in part, “This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters,” according to the Justice Department.“Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying.”

English had second thoughts because of Mangione’s own experience facing the law.

“I pushed that away because I was thinking like that is so stupid, that accomplishes nothing, that poor kid just threw his life away for like a minute of vengeance,” English said, according to prosecutors.

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“If all else fails, I was going to slit my wrists on the White House steps,” English admitted to police, according to court filings, showing a serious mental health issue.

“Just because that’s all you can do if you can’t hurt anyone else and you’re out of options and you’re out of time and you need to have an outlet and you need to show people how serious it is and you need to make one big dramatic f–––king thing.”

� Ashley DiMella and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Eric Mack is a breaking news reporter and writer Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m.ET to 2 p.m.ET, with a particular interest in stories that lead the news cycle on politics, elections, foreign affairs and government.