Riley Jane English, a 26-year-old Massachusetts woman identified in federal records as Ryan Michael English and also known as Raleigh Jane English, was sentenced to 73 months in prison on August 18, 2026, in connection with a plot to assassinate US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. English brought a folding knife and two improvised incendiary devices to the US Capitol on January 27, 2025, but surrendered to police before an attack occurred. She pleaded guilty to two federal weapons offenses in March 2026 and received an additional three years of supervised release. No one was injured.
Who Is Riley Jane English?
Riley English is a transgender woman from South Deerfield, Massachusetts. The US Department of Justice identifies her as Ryan Michael English and lists Raleigh Jane English as an alias.
She was 26 years old when sentenced in August 2026, according to federal prosecutors and the Associated Press.
English became the subject of a federal investigation after voluntarily approaching a US Capitol Police officer while carrying weapons and expressing an intention to harm a senior government official.
What Happened at the US Capitol?
On January 27, 2025, at approximately 3:12 p.m., English approached a police officer near the South Door of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, and announced that she wanted to surrender.
She told the officer that she possessed a knife and two improvised incendiary devices commonly described as Molotov cocktails.
Police searched English and recovered a folding knife, the two devices and a lighter from her clothing.
During questioning, English said she had traveled to Washington intending to kill a government official or attack a conservative organization.
Officers detained her without a violent confrontation. The weapons were recovered, and no attack took place.
Why Did English Target Scott Bessent?
Investigators said English initially considered targeting several prominent Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
She also discussed attacking the Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy organization based in Washington.
According to prosecutors, English later focused on Scott Bessent after learning that the Senate was scheduled to vote on his confirmation as Treasury secretary on January 27, 2025.
English told investigators that she intended to kill Bessent. However, he was not present at the Capitol when she arrived.
Authorities prevented the situation from developing into an actual confrontation with the intended target.
Evidence Recovered During the Investigation
Federal investigators recovered several items that became central to the criminal case.
These included a folding knife, two small improvised incendiary devices and a lighter. Officers also searched English's vehicle, which was parked on Independence Avenue near the Capitol.
The search uncovered additional materials that prosecutors associated with the preparations for the planned attack.
Police also recovered a handwritten note addressed to a roommate. The note expressed distress about political developments and apologized for English's actions.
Prosecutors cited the note, recovered weapons and English's statements as evidence of her intentions when she traveled to Washington.
Was Riley English Influenced by Luigi Mangione?
According to federal prosecutors, English referred to Luigi Mangione while explaining her actions to investigators.
Mangione had been charged in connection with the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
Prosecutors said English described being influenced by publicity surrounding that case and had considered taking action against public officials.
These statements formed part of the prosecution's account of her motivations. The defense later disputed the characterization of her actions as a deliberate and realistic assassination attempt.
What Charges Did Riley Jane English Face?
English faced federal charges arising from the possession of weapons and incendiary devices at the US Capitol.
On March 26, 2026, she pleaded guilty before US District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two offenses:
- Unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm under federal law.
- Carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on the grounds of the US Capitol.
The federal prosecution described the conduct as an attempted assassination targeting Bessent. However, the convictions resulted from the two weapons-related offenses rather than a separate conviction for attempted murder.
Riley Jane English Sentenced to 73 Months in Prison
On August 18, 2026, Judge Rudolph Contreras sentenced English to 73 months in federal prison, equivalent to six years and one month.
The court also imposed three years of supervised release following her prison term.
Federal prosecutors had requested a substantially longer sentence of 121 months, or ten years and one month.
English had remained in custody since her January 2025 arrest and was expected to receive credit for the time already served.
The sentence represented the principal criminal judgment in the case following her guilty plea.
Why Was the Sentence Shorter Than Prosecutors Requested?
Judge Contreras considered the seriousness of the offenses alongside the circumstances surrounding English's surrender and the limited likelihood that the alleged assassination plan would succeed.
According to the Associated Press, the judge observed that the improvised incendiary devices appeared incapable of functioning as intended.
He also noted that Bessent was not at the Capitol when English arrived and that nobody had been injured.
These circumstances influenced the court's assessment, although the judge emphasized that bringing dangerous weapons to the Capitol remained a serious criminal offense.
What Did English Say During Sentencing?
During the August 2026 sentencing hearing, English said she had been experiencing significant emotional difficulties and substance abuse problems when she traveled to Washington.
She maintained that she had not genuinely wanted to hurt anyone.
Her defense attorney, Maria Jacob, argued that English's actions occurred during a period of severe psychological distress and fear about political developments affecting transgender people.
The defense characterized her surrender as an indication that she was seeking help rather than attempting to complete an attack.
Prosecutors disagreed, arguing that English had spent considerable time considering an attack against public officials and that her conduct warranted a lengthy prison sentence.
The court considered both accounts before imposing the 73-month term.
Scott Bessent's Response to the Plot
Bessent submitted a statement to the court expressing concern about political violence and its effects on public officials and their families.
He said the incident had caused fear within his family and argued that threats against government officials can undermine democratic institutions.
His statement formed part of the material considered during sentencing.
Riley Jane English Case Timeline
- January 27, 2025: English approaches a US Capitol Police officer carrying a knife and two improvised incendiary devices and voluntarily surrenders.
- January 2025: Federal investigators disclose allegations that English intended to attack Scott Bessent and had considered other targets.
- May 8, 2025: A federal grand jury returns a two-count indictment involving weapons offenses.
- March 26, 2026: English pleads guilty to two federal weapons charges.
- August 18, 2026: Judge Rudolph Contreras sentences English to 73 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- November 2026: The August sentencing remains the latest major confirmed judicial outcome in the sources reviewed.
Latest Riley Jane English Case Update
As of November 10, 2026, the confirmed outcome of the Riley Jane English case is a federal conviction resulting in a prison sentence of six years and one month, followed by three years of supervised release.
The planned attack against Scott Bessent was never carried out. English surrendered to police, the weapons were confiscated and no injuries occurred.
The case attracted national attention because of the alleged assassination plan involving a senior government official and the serious security concerns raised by bringing weapons onto Capitol grounds.
The final sentence reflected both the seriousness of the offenses and the court's findings regarding the circumstances of English's surrender, the apparent limitations of the devices and the absence of physical harm.
- Log in to post comments