this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2025
93 points (97.9% liked)

United States | News & Politics

2167 readers
547 users here now

Welcome to [email protected], where you can share and converse about the different things happening all over/about the United States.

If you’re interested in participating, please subscribe.

Rules

Be respectful and civil. No racism/bigotry/hateful speech.

Post anything related to the United States.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
[email protected]
93
Man charged with carrying Molotov cocktails into the Capitol was targeting Johnson, Hegseth, Bessent (www.politico.com)
submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
20 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A man who was arrested Monday after allegedly bringing Molotov cocktails to the Capitol told police that he intended to kill Speaker Mike Johnson, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent, federal prosecutors said in court filings.

Ryan English turned himself in to Capitol Police, admitting he was carrying knives and two Molotov cocktails fashioned out of 50 milliliter Absolut Vodka bottles, stuffed with cloths doused in hand sanitizer.

Police say English indicated that he had intended to target Bessent, the newly confirmed Treasury secretary, and Hegseth, the new Defense secretary. He told authorities he had left his Massachusetts home on Sunday intending to target Johnson and Hegseth but learned that Bessent’s confirmation vote was slated for Monday.

After English arrived at the Capitol, he realized that he was unlikely to be able to get close to Bessent, given the security in place, and he said he considered taking steps that might amount to “suicide by cop,” according to the court filings.

English is facing charges for unlawful transportation of a firearm and bringing an incendiary device into the Capitol.

top 20 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 58 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Let me be the first to say:

Thanks for nothing, you absolute fucking nincompoop!

You don't lone wolf this kind of shit, dumbfuck! The only way any of us can stand up to this kind of Imperial control is having such a mass of people behind you that the police are afraid of you.

Trump wants to go down the emergency powers to institute Martial Law. Doing this lone wolf shit is going to give him every opportunity to get it started before a sufficient number of people are protesting in the streets.

Ryan English turned himself in to Capitol Police

Also... It's just slightly convenient that somehow this guy just chose to turn himself in instead of, I don't know, turn around and go home since no one knew about the crimes he did commit?

This screams crisis actor more than fucking kids getting shot at school do. And since everything everything everything is projection with the right, it means I have this nagging feeling that that's what this guy might be.

[–] WHARRGARBL 35 points 1 day ago

Also... It's just slightly convenient that somehow this guy just chose to turn himself in instead of, I don't know, turn around and go home since no one knew about the crimes he *did* commit?

Hey now. Who among us hasn’t headed off to engage in a harebrained scheme, only to arrive and think “Never mind, I’m just going to confess to this trusty police officer”?

[–] distantsounds 21 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Two 50ml Molotov cocktails out of Absolut bottles?! LMAO

[–] AngryCommieKender 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

You should probably measure out how much fluid is in a 50ml bottle... You don't need to run from shit in this fake ass plan. His "Molotovs" came out of a hotel fridge.

[–] AngryCommieKender 2 points 6 hours ago

I didn't have a "is this a _____ for ants" Zoolander meme sitting around.

[–] Skyrmir 13 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Molotovs? Really? That's what you try to sneak around with? I'm pretty sure the door guards don't even need dogs to smell that coming.

Love where the heart is, but everything else is just a fail.

Don't bring molotovs unless you're showing up with your own mob of supporters. If you can't get a mob of supporters, that's your sign to sit the fuck down.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 hours ago

I’m pretty sure the door guards don’t even need dogs to smell that coming.

If the security was trained to smell out alcohol, Hegseth wouldn't have made it into the building.

[–] Madison420 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

50ml, they're gas station one hitter bottles.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Where can you get vodka at the gas station?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 hours ago

They sell the mini bottles right up front so people can put them in their coffee j

[–] [email protected] 1 points 15 hours ago

Iowa.

[–] Madison420 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Most of America if we're being honest.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (2 children)

Not really.

There is only like 35 states that allow alcohol sales at gas stations. And the majority of those are beer and wine only, maybe 7 of them allow liquor sales?

[–] AngryCommieKender 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

35 > 25 that's 70%.....

That would be enough to pass a constitutional amendment with the aid of Congress, and is only 5% shy of being enough to pass a constitutional amendment without the assistance of Congress.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry, I should have been more specific 7 states allow liquor sales in gas stations. 35 states allow beer and wine. I was too lazy and did a random sampling of states and concluded less than half of them must not allow liquor.

But the answer is 7 at most (some argument because there are restrictions)... So 14% at best, not 70%

[–] Madison420 1 points 16 hours ago

Legal and "legal" are two separate things and businesses get creative in how to get sneaky. Go to lower income areas where you think it isn't legal and you'll probably find it anyway.

DC specifically allows liquor sales so long as the liquor and gas are purchased separately. https://www.grocerydive.com/news/costco-workaround-allows-it-to-sell-both-gas-and-liquor-in-dc-1/536490/

[–] Madison420 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Half of 50 is 25, 30 is more than 25 so remind me again how exactly is it not most states.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 18 hours ago

Because I wasn't able to comb through each state law to see if Liqour was included. But given sampling, it seems very few states do include liquor.

I have spent most of my time on the eastern side of country, so I assumed maybe it was common west, but that doesn't seem to be true either.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Try harder, assholes