Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of attempting to attack the White House Correspondents' Dinner and targeting President Donald Trump, has made his first court appearance facing new major federal charges, including the attempted assassination of the president.
Incident Details
The Justice Department alleges that Allen, 31, attempted to breach a Secret Service checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives, with the intent of harming Trump and other administration officials. The suspect reportedly exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents outside a ballroom where President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were present. An agent was struck in the bulletproof vest but has since been released from the hospital and is in good spirits, according to the President.
Charges Filed
Allen appeared in court on Monday wearing a blue prison jumpsuit and was formally charged with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States. Additional charges include transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony. Federal prosecutors had announced hours after the Saturday incident that Allen would face gun charges, including two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
A conviction for assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The charge of using a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years, with the possibility of life imprisonment if prosecutors prove the weapon was discharged.
Security Breach Concerns
Although Allen was quickly subdued and did not enter the dining hall, many attendees have expressed concern over how a gunman managed to get into the building, especially following two prior assassination attempts on the President. Allen smuggled a Mossberg Maverick 12-gauge shotgun into the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was held. He was also armed with a handgun and knives when he rushed the security checkpoint on the floor above the reception.
After exchanging gunfire with law enforcement, Allen was tackled to the ground just yards from the dinner venue, where the President, Vice President, First Lady, and most of Trump's Cabinet were dining. Allen had been staying at the hotel and avoided monitored corridors by using an internal stairway that was less surveilled. He emerged on a lower level near the initial screening area after running down about 10 stories.
Questions have arisen regarding how Allen was able to bring weapons into the hotel without detection. He was apprehended on a floor above the reception, and had he descended one more flight of stairs, he could have breached the dining hall. Following the evacuation to the White House, Trump noted that the hotel was not particularly secure.
Manifesto Reveals Intent
According to a manifesto Allen sent to family members moments before the attack, he intended to eliminate the President and members of his inner circle. The manifesto, reported by the New York Post, stated: "Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial."
