The United States Justice Department has filed federal charges against Cole Thomas Allen, who allegedly opened fire during the Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25 at the Washington Hilton. This announcement was made by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday.
Allen faces three serious charges: attempted assassination of the President, which carries a potential life sentence; interstate transport of a firearm to commit a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison; and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years to be served consecutively with any other sentence, and a maximum of life imprisonment.
The Timeline of Events
Blanche outlined the events leading up to the incident: Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California, booked a room at the Washington Hilton from April 24 to April 26. On April 21, he traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, then continued to Washington D.C., arriving on April 24 at noon and checking into the hotel.
On the evening of April 25, around 8:40 p.m., Allen approached a security checkpoint on the terrace level of the hotel—one floor above where the dinner was taking place—and ran through a magnetometer armed with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun.
A Secret Service agent was shot in the chest but was fortunately wearing a ballistic vest, which saved his life, according to Blanche. Allen was subdued and apprehended before he could enter the main ballroom, where approximately 2,600 guests, including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, were gathered.
Allen's Manifesto
Approximately 10 minutes before the attack, Allen sent his family a manifesto of around 1,000 words, signing it as "Cole 'Coldface' 'Friendly Federal Killer' Allen." In the document, he identified "administration officials, prioritized from highest to lowest rank" as his targets. His brother, who resides in New London, Connecticut, alerted the police after receiving the text.
The Secret Service released a statement following the incident, and the FBI, led by Kash Patel, took charge of the federal investigation. They conducted searches of Allen's hotel room and his home in California.
Federal Warnings Against Political Violence
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro issued a stern warning following the charges: "Let this serve as a message to anyone who considers Washington D.C. a place for political violence. The Constitution and the laws of the United States allow us to express our views with our voice and our vote. What they do not allow is for us to enforce them through violence, especially against the President. This is fundamentally undemocratic."
Allen, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech and a master's in computer science, appeared in federal court on Monday. His public defenders noted he had no prior criminal record.
President Trump remained resolute after the shooting and released security footage of the alleged gunman hours after the incident. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at 11 a.m. in Washington D.C., where it will be decided if Allen will remain in custody while the legal proceedings continue.
Key Questions on the White House Correspondents' Dinner Incident
What charges has Cole Thomas Allen faced for the shooting incident?
Allen is charged with attempted assassination of the President, interstate transport of a firearm for a felony, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
How did the authorities respond to the threat posed by Allen?
The Secret Service agent was protected by a ballistic vest, and Allen was apprehended before entering the main event area. The FBI assumed the federal investigation, searching Allen's hotel room and home.
What was included in Allen's manifesto sent prior to the attack?
Allen's manifesto named administration officials as targets, prioritizing them by rank. It was a lengthy document of about 1,000 words sent to his family.