Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect, was arraigned in U.S. District Court Monday, April 27, on charges linked to the April 25 incident when President Donald Trump and other government officials had to be evacuated from the Washington Hilton.
Allen is now charged by complaint with one count of attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Cole Allen now faces the full weight of federal justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This alleged assassin was stopped because of the courage and professionalism of law enforcement officers who responded without hesitation by doing their jobs. Because of them, the President of the United States, administration officials and all attendees at the dinner were safe. Make no mistake: deranged attacks on our elected officials will never go unpunished.”
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FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The evidence is abundantly clear: Cole Tomas Allen traveled to Washington D.C. for the purpose of assassinating President Trump and targeting members of the Trump administration. Thanks to the heroic actions of our brave law enforcement partners who acted quickly and professionally, Allen did not succeed – and now, he will be held fully accountable. This FBI and our interagency partners have worked around the clock over the past two days investigating this case, and today’s charges are the first step in justice being served and providing answers to the American people.”
“Cole Allen traveled across the country with deadly weapons and a plan to assassinate the President of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The swift and courageous response of the Secret Service officers prevented an unimaginable tragedy. There is no room in this city for political violence.
The DOJ had stated that amid the shooting, a “Secret Service officer drew his service weapon and fired multiple times at Allen, who fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries but was not shot. Officers subsequently arrested Allen, who was in possession of a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber pistol.”
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The shooting has reportedly prompted questions over security with some asking how a shooter was able to get close to where Trump and many other senior administration officials were gathered. Politico reported Monday, citing three anonymous sources that concerned Republican lawmakers have floated the creation of a House committee to investigate the shooting and security around the event.
“I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat,” the suspect said in the alleged manifesto first obtained by the New York Post, which expressed hostility to Trump and his administration.
The shooting prompted widespread reactions and condemnation from the world. According to The Guardian, Trump has used the shooting as justification for the 1,000-seat ballroom currently under construction adjacent to the White House but which is under a series of legal challenges.