WASHINGTON — The man accused of trying to breach security with firearms at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25 was charged Tuesday with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, federal prosecutors said.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, faces federal charges including attempted assassination of the president following the incident at the Washington Hilton hotel, according to court documents and statements from the Department of Justice. Authorities said Allen attempted to charge toward the ballroom where Trump and other administration officials were present, leading to shots being fired near a security checkpoint.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators believe Allen was targeting top Trump administration officials. Allen referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” in writings sent to family members shortly before the event and had expressed grievances against Trump administration policies in other communications, officials said.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening as the annual dinner was underway. President Trump was rushed off the stage by the Secret Service unharmed after gunfire erupted outside the main ballroom area. Guests took cover under tables during the chaos. No fatalities were reported. One security officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover, while Allen sustained a knee injury and was taken into custody.
Allen is believed to have traveled by train from California to Washington and checked into the hotel as a guest, allowing him access to the outer layers of security, according to law enforcement officials. He was carrying multiple guns and knives when he tried to breach a checkpoint, officials said.
In his first court appearance Monday, Allen was formally charged. He is accused of acting alone. Details of the full charging document, including the exact counts beyond the attempted assassination charge, were not immediately available.
Allen’s defense team had no immediate comment following the charging. Relatives and electronic devices were examined as part of the investigation, officials said.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is a major annual event attended by journalists, politicians and administration officials. This year marked the first time Trump attended as sitting president.
As of Tuesday, Allen remained in custody. No trial date has been set, and further details about additional charges or evidence remain subject to court proceedings.
The Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies continued their review of security protocols at the event.
