Related videos:
Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of attempting to take the life of President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, pleaded not guilty this Monday to the four federal charges against him before Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington D.C.
Allen, 31 years old and a resident of Torrance, California, appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit, handcuffs, and shackles.
The accused faces charges of attempted assassination, interstate transportation of a firearm with criminal intent, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
A conviction on the main charge could result in life imprisonment.
The shooting occurred on April 25 at approximately 8:36 p.m. at the Washington Hilton hotel during the 105th Annual Correspondents' Dinner, with about 2,600 attendees.
According to authorities, Allen traveled from California by train carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, broke into the security checkpoint, and fired at a Secret Service agent, who was hit in the bulletproof vest and sustained minor injuries.
The agent responded with five shots without injuring Allen, who was neutralized and apprehended before reaching the main hall where the attendees were.
Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other high-ranking officials were evacuated unharmed.
The incident marks the third attempt on Trump's life in less than two years, following the episodes in July and September 2024.
The federal grand jury for the District of Columbia issued the indictment, announced by federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel. Initially, three charges were filed on April 28; the fourth was added later.
Allen's defense, led by federal public defenders Eugene Ohm and Tezira Abe, requested the disqualification of Pirro and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche due to a conflict of interest, arguing that both were present at the event and may be potential victims or witnesses.
In a written statement to the court, the defense questioned, "How can the American justice system allow a victim to sue a defendant in a case that involves her?"
The defense also pointed out that Pirro has longstanding political and personal ties to Trump, and that Blanche was his personal attorney before joining the Department of Justice, which is why they requested the appointment of a special prosecutor.
In addition, advocates reported mistreatment conditions in the D.C. jail: unjustified surveillance, constant lighting, repeated searches, and solitary confinement.
Judge Zia Faruqui expressed "serious concerns" about the treatment of Allen and noted that he was being treated "differently from anyone" he had observed, unfavorably comparing his conditions to those of the defendants from January 6.
The next status hearing in the case is scheduled for June 29, 2026.
Filed under: