A Massachusetts woman, identified as Ryan Michael English (commonly known as Riley English), was arrested for allegedly expressing intentions to kill members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet at the U.S. Capitol. In a court filing, prosecutors revealed that English claimed to have been influenced by Luigi Mangione, a man charged with the fatal shooting of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
At 24 years old, English hails from South Deerfield, Massachusetts. She was arrested on a Monday and remained in custody following her initial court appearance on the subsequent Thursday. According to court records, she did not contest her pretrial detention.
Authorities reported that English described herself as feeling “on a mission” and suggested that she had been contemplating this act for some time, attributing this mindset to Mangione. Notably, Mangione had previously pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state court in Manhattan.
In a statement to investigators, English expressed her internal conflict about her intentions, stating, “I pushed that away because I was thinking like that is so stupid, that accomplishes nothing.” She referred to Mangione as “that poor kid” who “just threw his life away for like a minute of vengeance.”
English allegedly approached police at the Capitol and informed them of her intent to kill Scott Bessent, a billionaire investor, on the day the Senate confirmed his appointment as Trump’s treasury secretary. According to court documents, she was found in possession of a folding knife, two homemade firebombs, and a lighter.
Furthermore, English disclosed that her original targets included other Republican political figures, specifically Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson. She also stated that she intended to set fire to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Her focus shifted to Bessent after reading an online post related to his confirmation hearing.
During questioning, English claimed she was terminally ill and expressed a desire to take action before her condition worsened. Prosecutors cited this behavior as a “premeditated and calculated attempt to commit violence.”
On the defense side, attorney Maria Jacob presented an alternative narrative, arguing that English’s presence at the Capitol was merely a “cry for help” and that she never intended to harm anyone. Jacob emphasized that English did not exhibit aggression when she approached the Capitol Police and cooperated fully by retrieving the items in her possession when asked.
This case highlights serious concerns regarding the intersection of mental health issues and violent intentions, particularly in the context of politically motivated threats. The implications of English’s actions reflect a broader climate of political tension and the potential for violence in the current socio-political landscape.
