Cole Allen, the 31-year-old accused of storming the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with a shotgun, was formally charged Monday with attempting to assassinate President Trump, according to Justice Department prosecutors. The charges were unveiled during Allen's initial court appearance in Washington, D.C.
Allen faces three federal counts: attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, transporting a firearm across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a weapon during a violent crime. He did not enter a plea. If convicted on the top charge, he could receive a life sentence. The firearms charge carries up to 10 years, and the discharge count carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years, to run consecutively.
Prosecutors allege Allen rushed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, where the annual black-tie dinner was underway. Surveillance footage, posted online by President Trump, appears to capture the suspect sprinting toward the ballroom. The president was quickly evacuated by Secret Service agents, an incident that drew praise from a former Reagan administration agent who commended the response.
According to court filings, Allen was armed with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38 caliber semiautomatic pistol, three knives, and what prosecutors described as "other dangerous paraphernalia." He had traveled by train from California to Washington, booking a room at the Hilton. A manifesto attributed to Allen, obtained by The Hill, allegedly outlines a target list of White House officials "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest." In the document, he refers to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin."
Allen's sister reportedly told authorities that her brother had a history of making "radical statements" and frequently discussed plans to "do something" about societal problems. She confirmed he had purchased two handguns and a shotgun, which were stored at their parents' home without their knowledge. Minutes before the attack, Allen's brother alerted police in New London, Connecticut, about the manifesto.
The shooting rattled dinner attendees, who dropped to the floor as shots rang out and law enforcement ushered senior officials to secure locations. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicated Saturday that additional charges are likely, including assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon—a count not yet filed. The omission raises questions about whether Allen's weapon was discharged or struck law enforcement.
This marks the third prominent assassination attempt on Trump's life, following a rally shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was grazed by a bullet, and an incident at a Florida golf course. The Florida gunman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Trump has called for the WHCA dinner to be rescheduled within 30 days.
Heavy-hitting prosecutors are leading the case for the government, including Jocelyn Ballantine, who oversaw the seditious conspiracy prosecution of the Proud Boys linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Charles Jones, the prosecutor handling the case against D.C. pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole, also appeared. Federal public defenders Eugene Ohm and Tezira Abe are representing Allen.
Allen holds a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, according to a LinkedIn profile that appears to belong to him. He works as a teacher. A detention hearing is set for Thursday, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 11, unless a grand jury returns an indictment sooner.
