Riley Jane English received a 63-month prison sentence Tuesday for plotting to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the court filing. Prosecutors sought 121 months, but the judge handed down six years and one month instead. English traveled from Massachusetts to Washington on January 27, 2025, carrying a knife and two homemade explosives. She surrendered to police just one week after President Trump took his second oath of office. The Justice Department confirmed she admitted to intending to kill a cabinet member nominee.
She told officers plainly, "I was going to kill Scott Bessent," when asked about her plans. English approached a Capitol Police officer near the South Door and said, "I'd like to turn myself in." Police found a folding knife and two 50-milliliter vodka bottles stuffed with cloth wicks. These items were ready to be used as Molotov cocktails against the new Treasury Secretary.
English argued for a lighter sentence based on her identity as a "young transexual woman who has experienced trauma and suffering from the day she was born." U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro firmly rejected this argument during the sentencing proceedings. Pirro stated that the system of justice depends on officials carrying out duties without fear. She emphasized that threats against government leaders cross a clear legal line that cannot be ignored.
The case highlights a disturbing trend of violence involving transgender assailants targeting public officials. English was inspired by Luigi Mangione, who murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier that year. According to Fox News, English had been thinking about this attack for a while because of Mangione's actions. The FBI has investigated similar crimes as domestic terrorism and hate crimes in recent months.
This sentence sends a message that violence against elected officials will not be tolerated lightly. English pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of weapons and carrying explosives on Capitol grounds. The respective charges involved possible incarceration periods reaching up to 10 years and five years. Her actions occurred just two hours after Bessent was sworn into office, showing how quickly threats can materialize.
Per reports, English is the latest in a string of high-profile attacks linked to political extremism. Other cases include the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and an assault on an ICE detention center in Texas. These events show that the danger to public servants is real and growing. Families in every town must worry about the safety of their local leaders.
The court ordered English to serve her time followed by three years of supervised release. This outcome ensures she remains under strict watch even after leaving prison. The judge's decision balances the severity of the crime with the defendant's mental health claims. It remains a stark reminder of the volatility surrounding political transitions.
English's confession reveals a calm intent to commit murder that chilled everyone who heard it. She admitted to police that she wanted to kill Bessent to send a message. The weapons she brought were simple but deadly in the wrong hands. This case proves that anyone threatening violence will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Protecting our leaders is essential for keeping our democracy stable and secure. We can't allow fear to dictate how public servants do their jobs. The 63-month sentence shows the courts are ready to act when lines are crossed. Every American should feel safer knowing that such threats are met with serious consequences.