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Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting, is seen in a courtroom sketch during a hearing after being charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2026. Allen, 31, from California, did not speak during the session as his attorney, Tezira Abe, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The charges include attempted assassination of the president, assault on a federal officer, and firearms violations.
Prosecutors claim Allen fired a shotgun at a U.S. Secret Service agent and rushed a security checkpoint in a failed attempt to attack Trump and other officials at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Allen supposedly traveled to D.C. by train, carrying a shotgun, pistol, and knives, and reserved a room at the Washington Hilton, where the event was held on April 25.
During the brief court appearance, Allen wore an orange jumpsuit and was shackled at the waist. This marked his first appearance before U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who will oversee the case moving forward. Last week, a different judge apologized to Allen for his treatment in a local Washington, D.C., jail, which included being placed on suicide watch and kept in solitary.
A significant part of the upcoming legal battle involves Allen’s challenge to disqualify acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, citing their presence at the dinner and possible bias, as well as their status as potential targets for Allen. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm indicated that they may also seek to have the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington recused, due to Pirro’s friendship with Trump and her potential role as a victim.
Prosecutors are expected to respond to the motion by May 22. Pirro previously stated in an interview with CNN that her ability to prosecute the case is unaffected by her presence at the dinner.
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