Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who is being prosecuted for allegedly attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at the recent White House Correspondents Dinner, has pleaded not guilty to all four federal charges pressed against him.
On Monday, Allen was arraigned in a Washington DC federal court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffed and leg shackled.
His lawyer pled not guilty on his client’s behalf in the presence of US District Court Judge Trevor McFadden.
According to reports, Allen has been indicted on four charges, including attempted assassination of the president, assaulting a federal officer using a deadly weapon; transportation of a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The charge of attempted assassination alone is punishable by life imprisonment.
When Allen was apprehended, he was found with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun, a .38 caliber gun, several rounds of unused ammo, two knives, four daggers, some holsters, pliers and wire cutters.
He had conveyed his frustration toward the Trump regime and mentioned that he intended to shoot Trump officials in the ballroom starting from the most senior ones.
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The president was quickly escorted out of the auditorium by his security personnel without any physical harm.
He was seen two hours later in the White House premises, still dressed in a tuxedo.
Defence team pushes to disqualify prosecutors
The legal team of Allen has sought a disqualification order against at least two senior officials from the Department of Justice.
According to Allen’s lawyer Eugene Ohm, the defence will file for the removal of all the members of the US Attorney’s Office of Washington, which is headed by Jeanine Pirro, because she is not only Trump’s friend but is herself a potential victim since she was at the dinner.
“It is wholly inappropriate for victims of an alleged event like this to be individually prosecuting the case,” said Eugene Ohm in court.
In addition, the defence’s submission cites the presence of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in the incident as another ground for a conflict of interest.
However, Pirro rejected this criticism and, talking to CNN, said that her ability to prosecute the case had nothing to do with her attending the dinner party.
The prosecution’s response to this motion by the defence is expected by 22 May.
Allen was on suicide watch following his arrest, although he has now been taken off it.
The defense attorneys have raised concern over their client being unnecessarily kept in a padded cell, under constant light, and being strip searched and restrained multiple times.
According to the prosecutors, Allen stated to the FBI agents that he did not think he would survive the attack, thus explaining his classification as suicidal.
It is also the third attempt on President Trump’s life. It happened after two other cases of this kind in the year 2024. The trial date is yet to be set.
