The nomination of Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary by President Donald Trump was confirmed Monday by the Senate.

Summary

Ryan Michael “Reily” English was arrested at the U.S. Capitol with Molotov cocktails and a knife, allegedly planning to kill newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Initially targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or House Speaker Mike Johnson, English changed plans after learning about Bessent’s Senate vote.

He told police he was prepared to kill officers to reach his target and contemplated suicide by cop.

English also considered attacking the Heritage Foundation.

He faces multiple federal charges, including possession of explosives on Capitol grounds.

    • Capt. Wolf@lemmy.world
      0·
      4 days ago

      That’s assuming any of it even actually happened and this isn’t some sort of attempt to bolster sympathy support…

      • hydroptic@sopuli.xyz
        0·
        4 days ago

        You said it, not me. Really wouldn’t put that past reich-wingers, although I do think it’s more likely that the dude was just some random person who’s really fucking fed up with, well… *gestures around broadly*

        • earphone843@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          0·
          4 days ago

          I mean, Trump faked an assassination attempt, so it isn’t a stretch to think he’d do this to build the narrative to impose martial law.

          It’s right out of Hitler’s playbook.

              • SeaJ@lemm.ee
                0·
                3 days ago

                You mean the one where two people died? Just because it may not have actually hit his ear does not mean the shooter did not intend to hit him. That is an assassination attempt.

    • zib@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      4 days ago

      He could have just as easily not done anything and gone home. None of what he did makes any sense.