The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House gala last month pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Monday.
Cole Allen, 31, of California, did not address the court as his attorney, Tezira Abe, entered the plea on his behalf. Allen faces multiple charges, including attempted assassination of the president, assault on a federal officer and firearms offences.
Prosecutors allege Allen fired a shotgun at a U.S. Secret Service agent and forced his way through a security checkpoint in what authorities described as a foiled attack targeting Trump and other senior members of his administration during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
According to court filings, Allen travelled to Washington by train carrying a shotgun, a pistol and knives, and booked a room at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was held on 25 April.
Allen appeared in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and was shackled at the waist during the brief hearing. It marked his first appearance in Washington federal court before U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who will oversee the remainder of the case.
The hearing followed an apology last week from a different judge over Allen’s treatment while in custody at a Washington, D.C., jail. The judge said Allen had been placed on suicide watch and isolated from other inmates.
Monday’s proceedings also previewed a key legal dispute ahead, with the defence preparing to challenge the involvement of senior prosecutors in the case. Allen is seeking to disqualify Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, arguing that both were present at the Correspondents’ Dinner and may have been among his alleged intended targets.
Allen’s lawyer, Eugene Ohm, said the defence is likely to seek the recusal of the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, which Pirro leads, citing her friendship with Trump and her status as a potential victim.
“It is wholly inappropriate for victims of an alleged event like this to be individually prosecuting the case,” Ohm said.
Prosecutors are expected to respond to the defence’s legal filing by 22 May. Pirro previously told CNN that her presence at the dinner would not affect her role, saying: “My ability to prosecute this case has nothing to do with my being there.”
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