Cole Allen, the alleged shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD), has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including those related to the attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump.
During his court hearing on Monday, the 31-year-old suspect did not speak to the court while his lawyer Tezira Abe pleaded guilty on his behalf. During the previous hearing, a different judge apologized to Allen for jail conditions.
Prosecutors accused Allen of firing a shotgun at the U.S. Secret Service agent, storming a checkpoint with the intent to harm President Trump and his administration officials.
Charges filed against the suspect include:
- Attempted assassination of the president
- Assault on a federal officer
- Firearm crimes
In addition to the ongoing case, Allen is seeking to have Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro recused or disqualified from the case because they were present at the dinner, which could affect their judgment in the case.
His lawyer Eugene Ohm said: “It is totally inappropriate for the victims of an alleged event like this to prosecute the case individually.”
Allen reportedly traveled to Washington by train with several weapons and booked a room at the Washington Hilton where the dinner would be held.
Videos of the incident show the suspect running through security while simultaneously shooting a Secret Service agent. He was subsequently subdued and arrested by officials. The dinner was canceled and President Trump announced that it will be rescheduled shortly.
This was the first time Trump accepted the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) invitation to participate in the dinner during his two terms in office.
