The acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, has said the suspect who attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night could be charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was subdued by law enforcement as he rushed through the hotel venue.
Blanche told CNN on Sunday that charges of attempted assassination were 'absolutely' possible. He added that investigators believe Allen was targeting senior members of the Trump administration, although his exact motive remains unclear. Allen travelled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, checking into the hotel days before the event.
President Trump, Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were seated at the high table when muffled gunshots were heard outside the ballroom. Trump was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents, while Vance was also evacuated. The suspect allegedly sent an online manifesto to family members minutes before the attack, referring to himself as a 'Friendly Federal Assassin' and railing against Trump administration policies.
Blanche said Allen is not cooperating with authorities. He will face charges including assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm, and attempting to kill a federal officer, and is expected to appear in federal court in Washington on Monday. A family member told investigators that Allen had spoken about wanting to 'fix problems in the world'.
