The Massachusetts man who was arrested on Monday at the US Capitol armed with Molotov cocktails and knives was transgender. Local news outlet WWLP reports the man, named in the affidavit as Ryan Michael "Reily" English, was known as Riley Jane English, a 24-year-old transgender person. WWLP states that English is "a woman who lived in South Deerfield." English had told officers he was intending to kill Scott Bessent.
WWLP had initially reported on English by given name Ryan, but in their updated report they state that "This story previously identified the defendant as Ryan Michael English, the name used in charging documents. In a memo Wednesday, English’s attorney clarified that her client uses the name Riley Jane."
"Judith dear god I am so sorry," read words scrawled on the back of a receipt found in English's pocket, per the affidavit. "You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly b/c of my heart. This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters. I love you. This is awful. Im so sorry. I love u. Please stay alive and heal. you can. you are strong enough. F*ck them for pushing us so far. you dont deserve this. Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying. Please survive [7 hearts]."
This intended violence follows an incident in Vermont where two persons, a man and woman, both of whom identified as trans, engaged in a shoot out which cost both the male and a Vermont Border Patrol officer their lives. The woman, who is non-binary, sustained injuries and is believed to have been the one to fire on the agent.