Assassination Plot Sentencing
Transgender Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Plot to Assassinate Treasury Secretary Bessent
Key Points
Investigators found a pocket note in English’s possession in which they expressed remorse for the plot, writing: "This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters…Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying."
English initially targeted other government officials—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson—before shifting focus to Scott Bessent after seeing him televised during his confirmation.
Investigators cited Luigi Mangione as an inspiration for the plot.
There are discrepancies in reported sentencing length: prosecutors sought up to 121 months; U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras presided; some outlets reported 73 months while Fox News reports 63 months.
The plan also included an arson target—the Heritage Foundation—aligned with the broader intent to threaten a conservative think tank.
A 26-year-old transgender woman from Massachusetts has been sentenced to six years and one month in federal prison for plotting to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Riley English traveled to Washington, D.C., armed with a folding knife, a lighter, and two homemade Molotov cocktails, according to CTV News.
English also planned to burn down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. A note found on English at the time of arrest read: "This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters…Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying." CP24 reported that English pleaded guilty in March to unlawful firearm possession and carrying explosive devices on Capitol grounds.
How Bessent Became the Target After a TV Broadcast
English did not originally plan to go after Bessent. Investigators say English first considered targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson. That changed when English saw Bessent on television during his Senate confirmation hearing. Bessent became the focus of the plot from that point forward, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
English told police she brought the firebombs to Washington with the intent to either kill Bessent or set the Heritage Foundation ablaze. The dual-target plan reflected what prosecutors described as a broader desire to strike at conservative figures and institutions, LMT Online reported.
Luigi Mangione Named as Inspiration for the Attack Plan
Investigators said English was inspired by Luigi Mangione, the man charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. Mangione became a polarizing figure online after that killing. Prosecutors argued his case encouraged English to act, according to Click On Detroit.
The Mangione connection alarmed federal prosecutors. It pointed to a pattern where high-profile acts of political violence can inspire copycat plots. Prosecutors pushed for a sentence of up to 121 months — roughly 10 years — but U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras handed down 73 months, or just over six years.
Sentencing Draws a Hard Line on Threats to Officials
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said after the sentencing that threats against public officials will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The case was treated as a serious federal matter from the start. English faced charges under laws covering unlawful weapon possession and bringing explosive devices onto Capitol grounds, CTV News reported.
Some outlets reported the sentence as 63 months, while most put it at 73 months — a discrepancy that has not been fully explained. Either figure falls well short of the 121-month maximum prosecutors sought. English is 26 years old and was living in Massachusetts before the arrest, according to CP24.
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