US woman sentenced to six years in prison over plot to kill treasury secretary

A Massachusetts woman, Riley English, was sentenced to six years and one month in prison for a plot to kill US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In January 2025, English drove to the US Capitol with homemade firebombs, telling police she intended to assassinate Bessent on his Senate confirmation day. She claimed she was experiencing a mental health crisis and abusing drugs at the time. The judge noted that her plan had a low chance of success, as Bessent was not present and the firebombs were likely inoperable. English also expressed fears about the treatment of transgender people and stated she was influenced by another individual charged with a violent crime. Her defense argued she was in a diminished mental state and her actions were a "cry for help."

A Massachusetts woman, Riley English, has been sentenced to six years and one month in prison for bringing homemade firebombs to the U.S. Capitol with the intent to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. English, who identified as a transgender woman, stated she was experiencing a mental health crisis and drug abuse at the time of the incident in January 2025. She also claimed to have intended to harm other Republican figures and a conservative think tank. The judge noted that her plan had a low chance of success, as the firebombs appeared incapable of igniting and Bessent was not present. English's defense argued she was in a diminished mental state, while prosecutors sought a longer sentence, citing the threat of politically motivated violence. She will receive credit for the nearly 20 months she has already spent in custody.