A 31-year-old California man accused of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has been charged in federal court with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, a case that has intensified scrutiny of security around high-profile political events in Washington.
Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, appeared in federal court in Washington on Monday and did not enter a plea. He was ordered held at least until a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday. Prosecutors also charged him with two firearms-related counts after they said he crossed state lines with weapons and rushed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.
The attack unfolded as Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet officials, lawmakers, journalists and other guests were gathered for the annual dinner. Authorities said a Secret Service officer was struck in the chest but was protected by a ballistic vest and has since been released from the hospital. Investigators have not said definitively whether the round that hit the officer was fired by Allen or by law enforcement during the exchange.
Charges and alleged timeline
Federal prosecutors said Allen carried a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol and three knives when he approached the hotel checkpoint on the terrace level, one floor above the ballroom where the dinner was being held. According to an FBI affidavit described in the charging documents, Secret Service personnel heard a loud gunshot after Allen ran through a magnetometer holding a long gun.
Officials said the wounded officer fired multiple times at Allen, who fell to the ground, suffered minor injuries and was arrested. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Monday that investigators believe the officer fired five shots and that Allen discharged his shotgun at least once, but he cautioned that ballistics work was still underway.
The affidavit says Allen left the Los Angeles area by train on April 21, traveled through Chicago and arrived in Washington on April 24, the day before the dinner. He checked into the Washington Hilton after arriving in the capital, according to prosecutors.
Authorities also cited alleged writings they say Allen sent or scheduled to be sent to family members and a former employer around the time of the incident. The materials described administration officials as targets to be prioritized by rank, according to the affidavit. Prosecutors said the writings helped establish intent, while federal officials said the broader motive remains under investigation.
Attempting to assassinate the president carries a potential life sentence. The firearms counts carry separate penalties if Allen is convicted.
Security questions remain
The shooting has renewed questions about the Washington Hilton’s security perimeter and the decision to hold an event with the president, vice president and other senior officials at the same venue. CBS News reported that more than 2,500 people attended the dinner, including journalists, administration officials, lawmakers and celebrities.
Federal officials defended the response. “Law enforcement did not fail,” Blanche said, adding that Allen was a floor above the ballroom with hundreds of federal agents between him and the president.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran also defended his agents’ actions, while saying the agency would review event security on a case-by-case basis. A senior White House official told the BBC that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles would convene a meeting this week to discuss protocols and practices for major events.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said more charges are expected as the investigation continues. Search warrants have been executed in California and Washington, officials said, and investigators have seized multiple devices from Allen’s hotel room and his home in California.
The next major step in the case is Thursday’s detention hearing, where prosecutors are expected to argue that Allen should remain in custody while the criminal case and security investigation move forward.
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