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A Democratic lawmaker remained unyielding in his anti-MAGA stance shortly after an armed individual attempted to breach security and target officials from the Trump administration.
At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, a 31-year-old teacher from California, Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to dash past a security checkpoint. Armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives, his actions raised immediate alarm.
Allen exchanged gunfire with Secret Service personnel, hitting one officer’s bulletproof vest before being subdued and arrested. Fortunately, the agent is expected to recover fully, and no other injuries were reported.
The following morning, Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin shared his experiences from the dinner in an interview with CNN.
Journalist Dana Bash questioned Raskin, stating, “You’ve often expressed strong criticism against the president, similar to many Democrats. Does an incident like this make you reconsider your rhetoric?”
Seemingly taken aback, Raskin replied: ‘What rhetoric do you have in mind?’
‘Just talking about the fact that he is terrible for this country and so on and so forth. I understand that that’s your democratic right, but overall, do you have a responsibility?’ Bash then asked.
Before she could finish the question, Raskin said: ‘I have no personal problem with Donald Trump at all. I mean, I talk about the policies of this administration, the authoritarianism like we saw on display in Minneapolis.’
Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin refused to confront his outward anti-MAGA sentiments during an interview with CNN on Sunday morning
Raskin appeared to be taken aback by a question about his rhetoric potentially inciting violence less than a day after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was attacked
A teacher from California named Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has been identified as the suspected shooter. He was tackled to the ground and arrested before he could kill anyone
The congressman from Maryland went on to discuss Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the American citizens who were fatally shot by ICE agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, as well as people who have died in ICE custody.
‘I’m talking about policies. I don’t personalize it, and I certainly have never called the press the enemy of the people,’ Raskin continued.
That part of the congressman’s statement likely alluded to the shooter’s targeted event, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which brings together journalists and politicians at a black-tie gala every year.
Although Raskin denied making personal attacks against the president or inciting political violence with his rhetoric, he has been highly vocal in his critiques against the Trump administration.
At an April 16 congressional hearing for people who were separated from their children by ICE , the Democratic representative said: ‘This administration is focused on mass arrests, mass detention and deportation that are dividing our country in unprecedented ways.’
‘Federal agents simply started indiscriminately rounding up immigrants and American citizens who looked like immigrants, according to the agents,’ Raskin continued.
‘They don’t target the worst of the worst, they are the worst of the worst,’ the representative then said, referencing Trump’s campaign promise to go after the ‘worst of the worst’ undocumented immigrants.
Raskin’s last comment was heavily criticized by people who accused him of unfairly targeting law enforcement officials responsible for immigration enforcement.
Raskin has been criticized for comments in which he vehemently criticized ICE. He was also the lead manager of Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner descended into chaos after it was attacked. Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders
The representative was also the lead manager of Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. The case was unsuccessful, and the Senate acquitted Trump.
Other Democrats have recently tapped Raskin’s expertise in that realm as they evaluate fresh efforts to impeach the president a third time or invoke the 25th Amendment.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner descended into chaos as top administration officials were rushed to safety by Secret Service agents after the suspected gunman attempted to break into the event armed with multiple weapons.
Kerry Kennedy, the sister of Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, was sitting next to Raskin at the dinner. She described her harrowing experience in a post on X shortly after the shooting and praised Raskin for ‘heroically’ protecting her.
‘I hit the floor at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner mid conversation with Jamie, who heroically protected me, whispering, “You’re ok, you’re ok, you’re ok,”’ Kerry wrote.
She added that her host from the Boston Globe lay on the ground while ‘furiously’ taking notes and that thousands of people in attendance took cover under tables and chairs before Secret Service agents and security secured and cleared the room.
‘It was terrifying. But I am still grateful to the brave Secret Service, to my friends at the Boston Globe, and most especially to Jamie,’ Kerry concluded her tweet.
The shooter is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration, according to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Allen is seen after he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by authorities
Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding shooter Cole Tomas Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Blanche said officials believe the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington. He checked into the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being hosted, days before the event.
Evidence found on Allen’s electronic devices points towards the theory that he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner.
‘It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president,’ Blanche told NBC’s Meet the Press.
The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Blanche said. He is not being cooperative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.
‘He failed,’ Blanche said. ‘Law enforcement did their jobs.’
Federal prosecutors have announced that Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.
If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, are pictured ducking as they were escorted to safety by Secret Service agents
House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members
Allen is facing three charges, and more may be added in the near future. He is highly educated and has no prior criminal record
‘It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,’ United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said.
‘There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,’ she added.
Cops swarmed on Allen’s parents’ $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.
Officials said Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, DC.
He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.
Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.
On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: ‘A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.’