“Not guilty to all charges” — Accused gunman denies attempting to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old California man charged with the shocking armed attack at last month’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, entered a not guilty plea in federal court on Monday.
Allen appeared in court wearing an orange jail uniform, handcuffed and shackled at the waist and wrists. He remained silent as his federal public defender entered the plea on his behalf to all four counts, including the most serious charge: attempted assassination of the President of the United States.
Prosecutors allege Allen stormed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton on April 25, armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. He allegedly fired at a Secret Service agent — striking the officer’s protective vest — in a desperate bid to reach President Donald Trump and other top administration officials attending the high-profile event.
The charges against him include:
Attempted assassination of the President
Assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon
Firearms offenses, including discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence
Interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit a felony
If convicted, Allen could face life in prison.
His defense team used the hearing to push a bold motion, seeking to disqualify certain Trump administration officials from the case, arguing their presence at the dinner created a conflict of interest. The judge appeared skeptical of some defense arguments, according to courtroom observers.
The incident sent shockwaves through Washington and the nation, highlighting ongoing security concerns around major political events.
Allen, described in previous reports as a part-time teacher and video game developer from Torrance, California, has been held in custody since his arrest immediately following the chaos.
This high-stakes case is expected to draw intense media attention as it moves forward in federal court.
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