WASHINGTON D.C. (WSAU) – A man was arrested by Capitol police on Monday night after planning to assassinate newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the U.S. Capitol.
According to legal documents obtained by CNBC, Ryan Michael “Reily” English, who surrendered to US Capitol Police on Monday, initially planned to kill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson. However, English changed his focus to Bessent after visiting a library in Maryland, and learning that the Senate was scheduled to vote on his nomination as President Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary.
Based on the affidavit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., English considered hurling the cocktail at Bessent’s feet. Additionally, English claimed that he would have used a knife to stab Bessent if he had been able to get close enough. Bessent was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 68 to 29.
The charges against English include carrying a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device on Capitol property, as well as unlawfully receiving, possessing, or transferring a firearm.
Comments