Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, appeared in federal court on Monday, handcuffed and shackled in an orange jail uniform, as his attorney entered a not-guilty plea for the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25.
Allen faces four federal charges, including the attempted assassination of the President. If convicted on that count alone, he could receive a life sentence in prison. He is scheduled to return to court on June 29.
Federal prosecutors allege that shortly after 8:30 p.m. on April 25, Allen approached a U.S. Secret Service screening checkpoint, sprinted through a magnetometer toward stairs leading to the ballroom where President Trump was located, and fired a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, striking a Secret Service officer once in the chest. The officer drew his weapon and fired five times before Allen fell, was restrained, and arrested.
According to the indictment, Allen also possessed a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber pistol, dozens of rounds of ammunition for both calibers, two knives, four daggers, multiple sheaths, multiple holsters, needle nose pliers, and wire cutters. Initial charging documents released on April 27 revealed Allen reserved a room at the Washington Hilton from April 24 to April 26, traveled by train from near Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C., arriving around 1 p.m. on April 24.
Shortly before the attack, Allen sent an email to family and a former employer that included an apology and was signed with the name “Cole ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen.”
Allen’s legal team has moved to disqualify at least two senior Department of Justice officials from direct involvement in the prosecution, arguing they may be considered victims or witnesses. One defense lawyer stated the team would likely seek to disqualify U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s entire office.
Allen pleaded not guilty on May 11.