Federal prosecutors have charged 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen with attempting to assassinate President Trump in connection with Saturday's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Details from unsealed court documents reveal the suspect's targeting plans, amid praise for Secret Service response and calls for enhanced security.
Following the identification of Cole Tomas Allen as the suspect in the April 25 shooting at the Washington Hilton—where he fired shots near the ballroom, prompting the evacuation of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and others—federal authorities unsealed court documents on Monday detailing the charges. Allen, from the Los Angeles area, faces counts of attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition interstate for a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, potentially facing life in prison.
The documents include an email Allen sent to family around 8:40 p.m. that night, labeling Trump a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor' and listing administration officials as targets by rank, excluding FBI Director Kash Patel. He had booked a hotel room on April 6 and traveled by train from California via Chicago.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised law enforcement: “This man was a floor above the ballroom with hundreds of federal agents between him and the president. They did exactly what they are trained to do.” Trump echoed this, saying agents did 'an excellent job neutralizing the shooter.' A senior White House official said Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will review security with DHS and Secret Service leaders, renewing calls for a White House ballroom security project.
Politically, Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democratic rhetoric, while Democrats condemned the violence and called for unity.
