Cole Allen, 31, of California was also charged with transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
By Catholics for Catholics
As he made an insolent first arrival in court, the man suspected to be the shooter at the White House Correspondents Dinner was charged with trying to slay President Donald Trump on Saturday night.
Speaking forcefully and self-assuredly, Cole Allen, 31, replied to a judge’s questions in federal court in Washington D.C. on Monday. The accused was charged with the attempted assassination of the President, discharging a gun and transporting a firearm across state lines to commit a felony.
Allen has not yet entered a plea, according to a story by The Epoch Times.
A detention hearing for Allen is set for Thursday; a preliminary hearing will be held on May 11.
In court, Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh informed Allen of his rights, while prosecutors requested that he remain in custody.
As more information about the attack and the event unfold, officials said Allen sent a manifesto to family members in which he called himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” and summarized plans aimed at senior Trump administration officials who were scheduled to attend the event. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the intended targets likely included Trump.
🚨Judge Jeanine just exposed the manifesto of the would-be assassin:🚨
— And We Know©🇺🇸 (@andweknow) April 28, 2026
“This maniac wrote: ‘If I have to, I’ll go through OTHER PEOPLE to get to the president.’”
“2,500 people were in that room Democrats and Republicans alike ALL were potential targets.”
This wasn’t just an… pic.twitter.com/H7j20GNkGN
As it turns out, Allen, who lived in Torrance, California, located in the greater Los Angeles area, took a train from California to Washington and reserved a room at the Washington Hilton, where the Correspondents Dinner was held.
The event is geared toward journalists and renowned media celebrities as they celebrate freedom of the press. As Allen allegedly entered the event blasting his way in, the attendees scrambled to take cover as Secret Service agents and law enforcement rushed to protect the President and swiftly evacuated senior officials.
According to The Epoch Times, Allen blasted a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint inside the hotel, before the agents overpowered and arrested him. Video footage later shared online showed the suspect running through a hallway near the ballroom. Allen did not make it into the ballroom.
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