Woman accused of plotting to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is sentenced to 6 years in prison
Summary
A Massachusetts woman, Riley English, was sentenced to a little over six years in prison for bringing homemade firebombs to the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in January 2025. She claimed she was in a mental health crisis and under drug abuse at the time and had no real chance of carrying out the attack.Key Facts
- Riley English is a 26-year-old transgender woman from South Deerfield, Massachusetts.
- She brought homemade firebombs and a knife to the U.S. Capitol intending to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- The attack attempt happened in January 2025, during Bessent’s Senate confirmation.
- English said she was influenced by another criminal and was suffering from mental health problems and drug abuse.
- Investigators found her Molotov cocktails appeared unable to ignite.
- Treasury Secretary Bessent was not at the Capitol when English arrived.
- English was sentenced to 6 years and 1 month in prison, with 3 years of supervised release afterward.
- The judge gave credit for almost 20 months already spent in custody.
- Prosecutors had recommended a 10-year sentence.
- English also mentioned plans to target other political figures and conservative groups but changed her focus after reading about Bessent’s confirmation.
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