WASHINGTON – A man named Cole Tomas Allen, accused of attacking the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner armed with guns and knives, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including the attempted murder of former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred on April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton hotel, where Allen allegedly fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer who attempted to intervene.
During his arraignment in federal court on Monday, Allen was handcuffed, shackled, and dressed in an orange jail uniform. He did not speak, allowing one of his attorneys to enter the plea on his behalf. In the aftermath of the hearing, Allen's legal team requested the recusal of at least two high-ranking Justice Department officials from participating in his prosecution, citing potential conflicts of interest.
Both Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro were present at the dinner during the attack. Allen's attorneys argued that their involvement in the case could lead to bias or the appearance of impropriety. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a nominee by Trump, did not immediately rule on the recusal request but indicated that further elaboration would be necessary from Allen’s legal team. McFadden highlighted the importance of determining if Blanche and Pirro could be categorized as victims in the case, as this could influence their potential involvement.
Following his arrest, Allen was placed on suicide watch due to statements he made to FBI agents wherein he expressed a belief that he would not survive the attack. His attorneys later contested this designation, claiming that his treatment was overly harsh, involving unnecessary confinement and repeated strip searches.
Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, is charged with multiple offenses, including the attempted assassination of a President, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and other firearms-related charges. If convicted on the attempted assassination count, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
On the night of the attack, President Trump was quickly evacuated from the stage, and he later spoke to the press about the incident, reflecting on the nature of threats against influential figures. Trump remarked, “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” noting that authorities seemed to believe Allen acted alone.
Prior to the attack, Allen had reserved a room at the Washington Hilton weeks in advance and traveled from California to attend the event. Prosecutors say he was seen on hotel security footage shortly before the attack, outfitted for the assault and even taking selfies in his hotel room with weapons at the ready. In a message released by authorities, Allen referred to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin," indicating possible grievances against Trump's administration.
In total, the court proceedings surrounding Allen's case are set to continue, with a scheduled court date for June 29. The request for disqualification of key prosecution figures remains a point of contention as the case unfolds, highlighting the complexities of legal proceedings involving high-profile incidents.
