Massachusetts Man Charged in Plot to Assassinate Treasury Nominee at U.S. Capitol

A Massachusetts man, Ryan Michael English, 24, faces chilling charges for attempting to assassinate then-Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, the Justice Department announced. Arrested in January, English allegedly approached the U.S. Capitol armed with a knife and two makeshift Molotov cocktails, intending to unleash violence.

On Thursday, prosecutors charged English with attempted assassination of a cabinet nominee and carrying a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds. Court documents reveal a broader, disturbing plot: English also targeted House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom he branded a "Nazi." Inspired by the United Healthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione, English traveled from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., with plans to kill and to torch the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Capitol Police thwarted the plot when English, in a surreal moment, approached an officer on January 27, saying, "I’d like to turn myself in." A search uncovered a folding knife, two vodka-bottle incendiary devices with cloth wicks, and a green lighter in his possession. English’s initial court appearance followed Thursday’s charges.

This case underscores the heightened tensions surrounding political figures and institutions, as authorities remain vigilant against such brazen threats.