On Tuesday, a grand jury indicted the alleged White House Correspondents' Dinner attacker, Cole Allen, on four counts in the attempted attack on President Trump, other administration officials, and presumably anyone who got in the way.
JUST IN: Federal grand jury indicts WHCA shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen on four counts. pic.twitter.com/TqUkB5mrhr
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) May 5, 2026
You can see the indictment here.
The counts include:
- On or about April 25, 2026, in the District of Columbia, the defendant, COLE TOMAS ALLEN, did knowingly attempt to kill the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. (Attempt to Assassinate the President of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1751 (c)).
The penalty for attempting to assassinate the president is:
Whoever attempts to kill or kidnap any individual designated in subsection (a) of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
The other three charges are:
- On or about April 25, 2026, in the District of Columbia, defendant COLE TOMAS ALLEN did knowingly and by means and use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, that is a shotgun, forcibly assault, intimidate, and interfere with V.G, an officer and employee of the United States, while V.G. was engaged in his official duties and on account of the performance of his official duties. (Assaulting an Officer or Employee for the United States with a Deadly Weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) & (b)).
- Between on or about April 21, 2026, and on or about April 25, 2026, in the District of Columbia, defendant COLE TOMAS ALLEN did knowingly transport in interstate commerce a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge pump action shotgun, serial number MV2122609, a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol, serial number RIA2383396, approximately 45 rounds of 12-guage shotgun ammunition, and approximately 55 rounds of .38-caliber handgun ammunition from the State of California to Washington D.C. with the intent to commit an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and with knowledge and reasonable cause to believe that an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year was to be committed therewith, to wit: assassination of the President of the United States, assaulting an officer or employee of the United States with a deadly weapon, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, as alleged in Counts One, Two, and Four of this Indictment. (Transportation of a Firearm and Ammunition in Interstate Commerce with the Intent to Commit a Felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §924(b).
- On or about April 25, 2026, in the District of Columbia, defendant COLE TOMAS ALLEN did knowingly use, carry, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, that is, Count One and Count Two of this Indictment, which are incorporated herein. (Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)).
As of this writing, Cole Allen has only had charges brought at the federal level. He was previously charged via Complaint in a case pending before a magistrate judge (the one who apologized to him on Monday for the conditions at the D.C. jail). Now, with the grand jury indictment, the magistrate case is closed, and the matter will proceed before U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden.
Read More: Judge Apologizes to Would-Be Trump Assassin, Sparks Outrage
‘Premeditated’: Pirro Says Evidence in WHCD Shooting Now Tells a Much Darker Story
The case is now set for arraignment on May 11. Cole Tomas Allen, again as of this writing, remains in federal custody.
Serious charges, these. This is (and likely will be for some time) a developing story. We will be bringing you updates as events warrant.