Multiple would-be assassins have tried and failed to kill President Donald Trump, which may have prompted some other would-be assassins to shift their focus from him to some of his top allies in Congress and the executive branch.

An individual from Massachusetts was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police in Washington D.C. this week on suspicion of plotting murderous attacks against certain individuals and institutions that are close to and supportive of Trump, Breitbart reported.

That individual was criminally charged as a male named Ryan Michael English, but according to their attorney, the defendant is a transgender woman who prefers to go by the name of Riley Jane.

Suspect planned to attack Trump allies in D.C.

The Associated Press reported that English was arrested by Capitol Police near the U.S. Capitol building after he approached an officer and surrendered while confessing to a murderous plan.

The primary target was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who'd just been confirmed with bipartisan support in the Senate earlier that day, but English had also considered trying to kill or destroy other targeted individuals and institutions.

Those other targets reportedly included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank located just a few blocks away from the Capitol building and White House.

English was found to be in possession of a knife and multiple "Molotov cocktails" or homemade incendiary devices comprised of liquor bottles and a rag soaked with a flammable substance, along with a lighter.

Additional materials used to construct more of the explosive and fiery homemade bombs were also discovered during a search of English's vehicle.

Charging document filed

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by a Capitol Police investigative agent, English traveled to D.C. from Massachusetts on Monday with the intent to murder Sec. Hegseth and/or Speaker Johnson, or to burn down the Heritage Foundation building, but altered the plan to instead target Sec. Bessent after learning of his confirmation vote that day.

The affidavit described how English had purposefully left a cell phone behind in Massachusetts so as not to be tracked, how he planned to kill multiple police officers if necessary to reach his targets, and how he'd accepted the likelihood that he would be killed by the police during or after the attacks.

English was also found to be in possession of a handwritten note on the back of a receipt that indicated an understanding of the wrongful nature of the plan and the likely consequences that would be suffered.

However, as the affidavit noted, English appeared to have second thoughts after reaching the Capitol and surrendered to a nearby police officer instead of going through with the planned attacks.

Charged with federal felonies

Given that Molotov cocktails and other homemade explosives or incendiary devices are technically considered to be a "firearm" under federal law, English was charged with violating 26 U.S.C. § 5861 (Unlawful Receipt, Possession, and/or Transfer of a Firearm) and 40 U.S.C. § 5104 (Carrying a Firearm, Dangerous Weapon, Explosive, or Incendiary Device on the Grounds of the Capitol).

The suspect was charged in the affidavit as Ryan Michael English and referred to as such by the AP, but local Massachusetts media outlet WWLP reported that English's attorney informed them that their client was transgendered and preferred to be known as Riley Jane English.