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The individual accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25 has entered a plea in a federal court in Washington, D.C. on Monday morning, facing four charges linked to the alleged offense.
Appearing in court, Cole Allen, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and shackles, pleaded not guilty to charges including an attempt to assassinate the President, the discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, transporting a firearm across state lines, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
President Trump shared an image on social media depicting law enforcement apprehending Cole Thomas Allen after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026.
According to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, the 31-year-old from Torrance, California, could face additional charges.
However, Allen’s defense team is seeking to have Pirro and her office disqualified from the case. They argue there’s a “conflict of interest” due to Pirro being a victim of the alleged crime and her personal friendship with Trump, as outlined in a court filing last Friday.
They asked the same of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was also in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton when shots rang out.
Cole Allen allegedly ran past Secret Service in an attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump. (@USAttyPirro via X)
“As this case proceeds closer to trial, the country and the world will continue to wonder—how can the American justice system permit a victim to prosecute a criminal defendant in a case involving them?” the motion asks. “Or even—how can one of the victim’s closest friends prosecute the alleged perpetrator of the offense? Given U.S. Attorney Pirro’s friendship with the President and her and Acting A.G. Blanche’s attendance at the event at the center of this prosecution, the law necessitates their disqualification.”
Pirro responded to the move on Friday.
“We will evaluate the motion and respond in court,” she told Fox News Digital. “We will not tolerate people who come to the District of Columbia to engage in antidemocratic acts of political violence; and we will prosecute all such acts to the fullest extent of the law.”
Eugene Ohm, Allen’s public defender, told Judge Trevor McFadden on Monday that it’s likely they would ask for Pirro’s entire office to be taken off the case.
However, Ohm said it was unlikely they would ask for the entire Department of Justice to be forced off the case as part of the Blanche request.
“That would be quite a request,” McFadden said.
Cole Allen in a graduation gown taken on an unknown date. (Cole Allen/LinkedIn)
Allen is scheduled to return to court for a status conference on June 29 at 10:30 a.m.