Mass. man pleads guilty to plotting to assassinate Trump Cabinet member

Crime

Authorities say the South Deerfield man brought a knife and Molotov cocktails to the U.S. Capitol grounds before turning himself in.

A South Deerfield man pleaded guilty last Thursday to federal charges tied to a plot to attack a then-Trump Cabinet nominee at the U.S. Capitol.

Ryan Michael English, 24, admitted to attempting to assassinate then-Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent and to carrying a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

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

Under a plea agreement signed last Wednesday, the first charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000, while the second carries up to five years and a $250,000 fine.

The case stems from Jan. 27, 2025, when the U.S. Senate was scheduled to vote on Bessent’s nomination. 

At about 3 p.m. that day, English approached a U.S. Capitol Police officer near the building’s south entrance and said he wanted to turn himself in, according to the criminal complaint. He allegedly told officers he had come to Washington, D.C., to kill Bessent. 

Investigators later learned English had also considered targeting other political figures, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, or attacking the headquarters of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, according to an affidavit from a U.S. Capitol Police special agent. 

English allegedly told police that he stopped at a library in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on his way to the city and learned of Bessent’s confirmation the following day — that’s when he decided to make him the target.

When taken into custody, English was carrying a folding knife, lighter, and two “Molotov cocktails” — small improvised incendiary devices. The devices were made from miniature vodka bottles with cloth wicks, according to the criminal complaint. 

English told investigators he intended to ignite the devices and throw them, the special agent’s affidavit states. If close enough, English said he would have just stabbed Bessent with the knife instead. 

Authorities later recovered additional materials from English’s vehicle, including a larger bottle of vodka and fabric consistent with making similar devices, according to the criminal complaint. 

Investigators also found a handwritten note, addressed to “Judith,” in English’s possession, according to the plea agreement. 

“You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly b/c of my heart,” the letter reads, in part. “This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters … I’m sorry for lying and plotting and lying.” 

English is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 14.

“Our system of justice depends on public officials being able to carry out their duties free from intimidation and fear,” Pirro said. “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.”