South Deerfield, Massachusetts

Riley English, a 26-year-old transgender woman from South Deerfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to six years and one month in prison for plotting to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. English drove to the U.S. Capitol in January 2025 carrying homemade firebombs, a knife and a lighter, telling police she intended to kill Bessent on the day of his Senate confirmation. She said she was in a mental health crisis, cited Luigi Mangione as an influence, and had also considered targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Heritage Foundation.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras called the plot's chance of success "exceedingly low or non-existent," noting Bessent was not present and the devices appeared incapable of igniting. Prosecutors had sought a 10-year sentence, arguing the plan was deliberate; the defense described English as traumatized and in a diminished mental state. She will receive credit for nearly 20 months already served, followed by three years of supervised release.