White House shooting suspect pleads not guilty to attempted assassination of Trump

A MAN CHARGED with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a White House press gala last month has pleaded not guilty.

Cole Allen (31) entered the not guilty plea during an appearance before judge Trevor McFadden in a federal district court in Washington today.

Allen, from California, appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.

McFadden scheduled a status conference on the case to be held on 29 June.

Allen faces four charges in connection with the 25 April attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at a Washington hotel and potentially faces life in prison if convicted.

He is charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.

Allen’s attorneys are seeking to have acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, removed from the case because they were guests at the dinner.

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According to prosecutors, Allen, a highly educated teacher and engineer, travelled from his home in California to Washington by train carrying an arsenal that included a shotgun, a handgun and numerous knives.

Allen never got close to Trump or the other guests attending the White House press dinner on a lower floor. The president, Vice President JD Vance and other government officials were rushed out of the venue by security officers after gunshots were heard.

Allen was tackled and arrested by law enforcement almost immediately after charging through a security checkpoint and firing a single shot, which allegedly struck a Secret Service agent in the chest, wounding him slightly.

The agent, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, fired multiple times at Allen but did not hit him.

The annual dinner draws Washington journalists, administration officials, celebrities and entertainers. Trump has traditionally boycotted the event but decided to attend this year.

It was the third alleged assassination attempt against the 79-year-old Trump in less than two years.

Trump was the target of an assassination attempt during a presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.

A gunman fired several shots, killing an audience member and nicking the president in the ear. A few months later, another armed man was arrested on a West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing a round.

With additional reporting from AFP

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