US prosecutors release selfie of suspect taken before Washington media dinner shooting

by · TheJournal.ie

NEW IMAGES INCLUDED in a court filing by the US government show the man who has been charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at the White House correspondents’ dinner with weapons minutes before the incident.

Prosecutors submitted the new details as part of their motion to keep Cole Allen in custody. 

The 31-year-old, of Torrance, California, was also charged with two weapons offences relating to the incident at the Hilton hotel in Washington DC on 25 April.

Allen wore black trousers, a black shirt and a red tie as he snapped the image in his room at the Washington Hilton, authorities said. He was also equipped with an ammunition bag, shoulder gun holster and a sheathed knife.

Some of the weapons and shotgun ammunition Cole Allen had in Washington, according to a court filing by the US department of justice. Department of Justice / PADepartment of Justice / PA / PA

The US government said Allen repeatedly made online checks to keep track of Trump’s status that night, including live coverage of the president exiting his vehicle at the Hilton hotel.

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Investigators said preset emails with an “Apology and Explanation” attachment were sent at approximately 8.30pm (1.30am Irish time).

“He intended to kill and fired his shotgun while trying to breach security and attack his target. Put simply, the defendant poses an uncommonly serious danger to the community if released pending trial. The defendant’s lack of criminal history and other personal circumstances do not alter this conclusion,” assistant US attorney Charles Jones wrote.

Trump was uninjured during the incident. A Secret Service officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot in the vest and survived.

Some of the weapons Cole Allen had in Washington, according to a court filing by the US department of justice. Department of Justice / PADepartment of Justice / PA / PA

Allen appeared in court on Monday. He did not speak at length during the brief court appearance, as is customary.

One of his lawyers, Tezira Abe, noted he had no criminal record and said he “is presumed innocent at this time”.

Trump was rushed off the stage by his security team on Saturday night and appeared at the White House two hours later, still in his tuxedo.

“When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” Trump said.

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“They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”

An FBI affidavit filed in the case on Monday revealed other details about the planning behind the assault.

Authorities alleged that on 6 April, Allen reserved a room for himself at the Washington hotel where the event would be held weeks later under its typical tight security.

The affidavit said he travelled by train cross-country from California last week, checking himself into the Washington Hilton one day before the dinner with a room reserved for the weekend.

With reporting from Press Association

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