Man charged with carrying Molotov cocktails into the Capitol was targeting Johnson, Hegseth, Bessent

According to federal prosecutors’ court files, a man who was arrested on Monday for allegedly bringing Molotov cocktails to the Capitol informed police that he planned to murder Speaker Mike Johnson, Pete Hegseth, and Scott Bessent. When Ryan English handed himself up to Capitol Police, he acknowledged that he had two Molotov cocktails made out of 50 milliliter bottles of Absolut Vodka, knives, and hand sanitizer-stained rags inside.

According to police, English stated that he had planned to attack Hegseth, the new Defense secretary, and Bessent, the recently confirmed Treasury secretary. After learning that Bessent’s confirmation vote was scheduled on Monday, he told authorities that he had left his Massachusetts home on Sunday with the intention of targeting Johnson and Hegseth.

After English arrived at the Capitol, he realized that he was unlikely to be able to get close to Bessent, given the security in place, and he said he considered taking steps that might amount to “suicide by cop,” according to the court filings. English is facing charges for unlawful transportation of a firearm and bringing an incendiary device into the Capitol.