The man accused of carrying out the armed attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges, including the attempted assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Cole Allen appeared in court Monday, where his attorney entered the plea on his behalf as the 31-year-old remained largely silent throughout the proceedings.
Federal prosecutors allege Allen traveled to Washington carrying several weapons before checking into the Washington Hilton, the venue hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Authorities claim the suspect later stormed a security checkpoint and opened fire at a U.S. Secret Service agent using a shotgun.
Investigators say the alleged attack was aimed at President Donald Trump and senior administration officials attending the high-profile event.
According to court filings, Allen is facing several major federal charges, including:
- Attempted assassination of the president
- Assault on a federal officer
- Multiple firearm-related offenses
The case has quickly become one of the most closely watched federal prosecutions tied to presidential security in recent years, particularly because the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is traditionally considered one of Washington’s most heavily secured political gatherings.
During a previous hearing, another judge reportedly apologized to Allen over conditions at the jail where he is being held, an unusual moment that briefly shifted attention toward the treatment of the suspect while awaiting trial.
Allen’s legal team is also attempting to remove two senior Justice Department officials from involvement in the prosecution. His attorneys argued that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should recuse themselves because both were reportedly present at the dinner during the incident.
Defense attorney Eugene Ohm argued in court filings that individuals connected to the event should not oversee the prosecution.
“It is wholly inappropriate for victims of an alleged event like this to be individually prosecuting the case,” Ohm said.
Videos circulating after the incident allegedly show the suspect running through a security perimeter while firing toward law enforcement personnel before being subdued and arrested by authorities.
The attack forced organizers to cancel the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event attended annually by journalists, politicians, celebrities, and government officials. Trump later announced that the gathering would be rescheduled.
The dinner had carried additional political significance this year because it marked the first time Trump accepted an invitation from the White House Correspondents' Association to attend the event across both of his presidential terms.
As the federal case moves forward, prosecutors are expected to focus heavily on Allen’s travel history, online activity, weapon purchases, and potential motivations leading up to the alleged attack.