Key facts
- Riley English, 26, was sentenced to six years and one month in prison.
- She admitted to bringing homemade firebombs to the U.S. Capitol to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- English claimed she was experiencing a mental health crisis and drug abuse at the time.
- The judge noted her plan had a low chance of success and the firebombs were likely inoperable.
- English also mentioned intentions to harm other Republican figures and damage the Heritage Foundation.
A Massachusetts woman, Riley English, has been sentenced to six years and one month in prison for plotting to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. English, 26, drove to Washington D.C. in January 2025 with homemade firebombs, intending to carry out the assassination on the day of Bessent's Senate confirmation hearing. She told police she was experiencing a mental health crisis and abusing drugs at the time, and that she was influenced by Luigi Mangione. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, nominated by President Barack Obama, noted that English's plan had an "exceedingly low or non-existent" chance of success, as the firebombs appeared incapable of igniting. English will receive credit for the nearly 20 months she has already spent in custody. Prosecutors had sought a longer sentence of over 10 years, citing the escalating threat of politically motivated violence. English's defense attorney argued she was in a diminished mental state and that her actions were a "cry for help." English also reportedly intended to harm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, and to burn down the Heritage Foundation.