BREAKING: Man arrested at Capitol with Molotov cocktails wanted to kill Treasury Sec Scott Bessent: police

According to the affidavit, Ryan Michael "Reily" English approached a Capitol Police Officer on Monday at around 3:12 pm near the South Door of the US Capitol Building and said "I’d like to turn myself in." English also revealed to the officer that he was in possession of multiple knives and two Molotov cocktails.

English was detained and a search uncovered a folding knife in English’s pants pocket, as well as two "destructive devices" in the inside pockets of his jacket that were constructed of 50 ml bottles of vodka with cloth attached to the top. A lighter was also recovered.

English told authorities that the bottles contained vodka and the cloth had been soaked in hand sanitizer. He said that he was there to "kill Scott Bessent," and that he had additional Molotov cocktails in his vehicle, which was located in the 900 block of Independence Ave SW. A search uncovered a 750 ml bottle of 100 proof vodka and a grey sweatshirt from which cloth had been cut.

Law enforcement discovered a reciept in English’s back pocket, on the back of which as written, "Judith dear god I am so sorry. 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 [7 hearts]," according to the affidavit.

English left his Massachusetts home on Sunday, January 26 and traveled to DC with the intention of killing "'Nazi' Secretary of Defense, Peter Hegseth, and/or the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and/or burning down the Heritage Foundation," the affidavit stated. "These actions were specifically to 'depose' these political offices and send a message."

English stopped at a library in Chevy Chase, Maryland on his way down to DC and "observed Reddit posts mentioning the confirmation hearings of the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent," after which he allegedly altered his intended target.

"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 later stated that English told authorities "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."

The affidavit added that English, after conducting surveillance on Capitol grounds, "surmised that English would have to kill, at least, three US Capitol Police Officers to get to Bessent and kill him." He recognized that his actions "were likely to put English in grave danger and expressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop."

The affidavit stated that there was probable cause that English "violated Title 26 United States Code § 5861 (Unlawful Receipt, Possession, and/or Transfer of a Firearm), and Title 40 United States Code § 5104 (Carrying a Firearm, Dangerous Weapon, Explosive, or Incendiary Device on the Grounds of the Capitol)"

Bessent was confirmed on Monday in a 68-29 vote in the Senate. In his November announcement nominating Bessent to the role, Trump wrote, "Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda. On the eve of our Great Country's 250th Anniversary, he will help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the World's leading Economy, Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurialism, Destination for Capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the US Dollar as the Reserve Currency of the World. Unlike in past Administrations, we will ensure that no Americans will be left behind in the next and Greatest Economic Boom, and Scott will lead that effort for me, and the Great People of the United States of America."

In early January, a man was arrested inside the Capitol Visitor Center with a machete and knives inside his bag. On Election Day, a man was arrested in the Capitol Visitor Center who "smelled like fuel" and possessed a flare gun and torch. In the screening area, police discovered two bottles they believed to contain accelerant, with police saying that the man "had papers with him that he said his intent was to deliver them to Congress."

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Ryan Michael 'Reily' English Affidavit by Hannah Nightingale on Scribd