Man accused in Trump assassination attempt agrees to remain in custody

 

The suspect, Cole Allen, 31, would not immediately contest prosecutors' arguments that he was a danger to the community and ​should remain in jail, his attorney, Tezira Abe, said during a court hearing.

Allen allegedly stormed a ​security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on ⁠Saturday.

Prosecutors argued Allen carefully planned to attack Trump and other officials in his administration as they ​dined with some 2,600 journalists, politicians and others in a ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel.

They ​alleged in a legal filing that Allen traveled by train from his California hometown to Washington armed with the shotgun, a .38-caliber pistol as well as knives and daggers and was “willing to commit a mass shooting inside a room ​full of the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. government.”



Allen is charged with attempted assassination, discharging a firearm ​during a crime of violence and illegally transporting guns and ammunition across state lines. He has not yet ‌entered a ⁠plea.

In court filings, his defense lawyers highlighted what they called flaws in the government’s case, including questions about whether Allen shot a U.S. Secret Service agent, as officials initially claimed.

Allen’s defense team said he had no prior arrests or convictions and was an active member of his Christian church family.

Prosecutors ​have not alleged in ​court that Allen shot ⁠the agent, who officials said was struck by gunfire but was spared serious injury by his ballistic vest.

Allen is accused of firing the shotgun toward ​a set of stairs that led down to the ballroom. A U.S. ​Secret Service ⁠agent heard a “loud bang” and a spent casing was found in the barrel of the shotgun, according to court documents.

Prosecutors allege Allen intended to target Trump, citing an email Allen allegedly sent to relatives ⁠on the ​night of the shooting in which he appeared to refer ​to Trump as a traitor and a criminal. The email does not mention Trump by name but refers to targeting ​administration officials from highest to lowest rank.

- Reuters