Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, has entered a not guilty plea regarding charges stemming from a violent confrontation at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner held last month in Washington, D.C. Allen faces severe federal counts, including the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and multiple firearm-related offenses, such as the use of a weapon during a violent crime and the interstate transport of a firearm with intent to commit a felony.

The incident unfolded when Allen allegedly bypassed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the high-profile event was being held. Prosecutors claim that Allen engaged in a shootout with a Secret Service agent, who was struck by gunfire but remained protected by his bulletproof vest. The suspect was apprehended just before reaching the ballroom, where the President, Vice-President JD Vance, and various cabinet members were in attendance. The event attendees were swiftly evacuated as the situation escalated.

During his first appearance before U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, Allen’s defense team moved to disqualify several high-ranking government officials from the prosecution, including U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Todd Blanche. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm argued that these officials have publicly identified themselves as victims of the attack, creating a conflict of interest that makes their involvement in the prosecution inappropriate. The Justice Department has been ordered to respond to this motion by June 22.

Evidence presented by investigators suggests a calculated attempt to infiltrate the event. Records indicate that Allen traveled from California to Washington via Chicago before the dinner. Prosecutors submitted photographic evidence showing the suspect posing with multiple weapons, including a shotgun and a knife, shortly before the event. Allegations further suggest that Allen monitored live coverage of the dinner before sprinting through a metal detector with a raised shotgun, triggering the emergency response that ultimately prevented a larger tragedy.