Context:

Ryan Michael English, a 24-year-old from Massachusetts, was charged with attempting to assassinate a cabinet nominee after allegedly trying to bring a knife and two improvised Molotov cocktails into the U.S. Capitol. His target was the then-Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent during his nomination process. English, who had originally plotted to kill other high-profile figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, turned himself in to a Capitol Police officer. The suspect was inspired by another murder suspect and intended to carry out additional attacks, including burning down the Heritage Foundation. During a search, Capitol Police found the weapons inside English's jacket and he had an initial court appearance after being charged with carrying a dangerous weapon and attempted assassination.

Dive Deeper:

• Ryan Michael English was arrested in January after attempting to bring a knife and two Molotov cocktails into the U.S. Capitol with the intent to assassinate Scott Bessent, the then-nominee for Treasury Secretary.

• Prosecutors revealed that English had also plotted to kill House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and was inspired by the murder suspect of United HealthCare CEO Luigi Mangione.

• English approached a Capitol Police officer on January 27, stating his intention to turn himself in, and expressed his plan to kill Scott Bessent, according to court documents.

• Federal prosecutors stated that English traveled from Massachusetts to Washington, intending to kill Hegseth, whom he called a 'Nazi,' and burn down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

• During a search, officers found a folding knife and two improvised incendiary devices made of vodka bottles with a grey cloth affixed to the top inside English's jacket, along with a green lighter in another pocket.

• English's initial court appearance took place on Thursday afternoon, where he faced charges of attempted assassination of a cabinet member nominee and carrying a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds.

• The suspect's actions were rooted in a broader plot to commit multiple high-profile murders and incite further violence, posing a significant threat to public and governmental safety.