A man charged with breaching security at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while carrying firearms and knives pleaded not guilty on Monday to accusations of trying to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump and shooting at a Secret Service officer who intervened.
Cole Tomas Allen, clad in an orange jail attire and restrained, remained silent during his arraignment in federal court, with one of his lawyers entering the plea on his behalf.
Allen’s legal team is seeking the disqualification of two high-ranking Justice Department officials from being directly involved in his prosecution due to their potential roles as witnesses or victims in the incident.
During the event, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro were present when Allen breached security and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm indicated that they might request the exclusion of Pirro’s entire office from the case.
Although Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by Trump, did not make an immediate decision on this matter, he requested further details on the scope of the recusal request from Allen’s attorneys.
In response to the defense’s motion, the prosecutors were given until May 22 to provide a written response, particularly regarding the potential victim status of Pirro and Blanche.
Apart from the charge of attempted assassination, Allen faces accusations of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and two other firearm-related charges, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted of the attempted murder charge alone.
Following the disruption at the Washington Hilton on April 25, where a Secret Service officer was shot in a bulletproof vest, Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, sustained injuries but was not shot. He is set to appear in court again on June 29.
After Allen’s arrest, he was initially placed on suicide watch but later removed from that status by jail authorities. His attorneys raised concerns about his treatment while in custody, including being confined in a padded room with constant lighting and frequent strip searches.
According to prosecutors, Allen took a photo of himself in his hotel room minutes before the attack, equipped with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster, and a sheathed knife. The message he left suggested a motive related to his grievances against the Trump administration.
Authorities alleged that Allen made a reservation at the Hilton weeks before the event under the usual tight security protocols and traveled by train from California, checking in a day before the dinner.
Following the incident, Trump was swiftly escorted off the stage by his security team and later addressed the attack and the suspect at the White House. He commented on the attacker being a “lone wolf” and speculated on the motives behind the assault.
The president emphasized the impact of his actions, stating, “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone.”