Washington
AP
—
A Massachusetts man was arrested on weapons charges after he visited the US Capitol on Monday and told police that he wanted to kill top Republicans, including billionaire investor Scott Bessent on the day the Senate confirmed him as President Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary, according to a Tuesday court filing.
Ryan Michael English, 24, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, was arrested at the Capitol after he approached police and said he had knives and Molotov cocktails in his possession and wanted to surrender, according to a Capitol police officer’s affidavit. Investigators said they found a folding knife, two homemade firebombs and a lighter in English’s possession.
English also told police that he came to the Capitol to kill Bessent, the affidavit says.
Investigators searched English’s car and found material for making a homemade explosive device, police said.
English told investigators that he traveled from Massachusetts to Washington, DC, intending to kill other Republican political figures — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson — and to burn down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, according to police.
“These actions were specifically to ‘depose’ these political offices and send a message,” the affidavit says.
English changed his target to Bessent after reading an internet post about his confirmation hearing, according to police.
The Senate confirmed Bessent on a 68-29 vote, with 16 Democrats voting in favor of the South Carolina resident.
English was arrested on charges of unlawful receipt; possession or transfer of a firearm; and of carrying a firearm, a dangerous weapon, an explosive or an incendiary device on Capitol grounds.
Court records don’t name an attorney for English. A telephone message left with a possible relative of English wasn’t immediately returned.
In a shocking turn of events, an armed man was arrested at the Capitol after allegedly threatening to kill Trump Cabinet members. According to police reports, the man was carrying a loaded weapon and had made explicit threats against several members of the Cabinet.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of government officials, as well as the potential for violence in our nation’s capital. It serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise when individuals resort to violence to express their political beliefs.
Authorities are currently investigating the motives behind the man’s threats and are taking steps to ensure the safety of all government officials. It is imperative that we take threats of violence seriously and work together to prevent any further incidents from occurring.
We must condemn this type of behavior and work towards finding peaceful and constructive ways to express our grievances. Violence is never the answer, and we must all strive to uphold the values of democracy and respect for one another. Let us hope that incidents like this serve as a wake-up call for us all to come together and find common ground.
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