Jan 28, 2025
BREAKING: Man arrested at Capitol with Molotov cocktails wanted to kill Treasury Sec Scott Bessent: police
A Massachusetts man who was arrested at the US Capitol on Monday with Molotov cocktails and knives told authorities that he was there to kill Scott Bessent, who was confirmed as Secretary of the Treasury the same day, court documents filed on Tuesday revealed.
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.
