Man With Molotov Cocktails Aimed To Kill 'Nazi' Pete Hegseth, Other GOPers: Cops

The suspect surrendered to police near the Capitol entrance and allegedly divulged his disturbing plot that also involved Mike Johnson and Scott Bessent.

A suspect armed with knives and Molotov cocktails near the U.S. Capitol on Monday told police of his plot to kill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson before he changed his target to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to a criminal complaint.

Ryan Michael “Reily” English of Massachusetts was charged with possession of a firearm (in this case, the Molotov cocktails) and carrying an explosive on Capitol grounds.

English turned himself in to a Capitol Police officer at the South entrance, saying he originally intended to kill Hegseth, whom he called a “Nazi,” and Johnson as a means to “depose” them, an officer wrote in the affidavit. But English told investigators that reading online about Bessent’s confirmation spurred him to focus on the treasury secretary, police said.

English said he planned to throw the vodka-filled Molotov cocktails at Bessent’s feet, but if he could get close enough to him he would stab him, according to the arrest warrant. The suspect said he knew his assassination attempt would likely mean he’d also have to kill police, opening him up for “suicide by cop,” the document asserted.

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