A man was arrested on Monday after allegedly attempting to bring two Molotov cocktails to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutors revealed that the suspect had intentions to harm House Speaker Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The suspect, identified as Ryan English, surrendered himself to the U.S. Capitol Police and was found in possession of Molotov cocktails made from Absolut Vodka bottles and knives. He is facing charges related to carrying dangerous weapons and explosives on Capitol grounds.
During a search, law enforcement officers discovered additional materials to make Molotov cocktails inside English's vehicle. The suspect allegedly confessed to planning to kill Bessent and had altered his target after seeing information about Bessent's confirmation hearings.
English expressed his intentions to throw the Molotov cocktails at Bessent's feet and stab him if he could get close enough. He also mentioned his acceptance of the possibility of 'suicide by cop' if his plan did not succeed.
Authorities revealed that English had traveled from Massachusetts to Washington with the initial plan to target Hegseth and Johnson, as well as burn down the Heritage Foundation. However, he changed his focus upon learning about Bessent's confirmation hearings.
Since January 2024, the U.S. Capitol Police have confiscated over 50 weapons illegally brought onto Capitol grounds. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in protecting government officials and facilities.
