Correspondents’ Dinner Attack: Suspect Cole Tomas Allen Enters His Plea

The accused would-be presidential assassin and White House Correspondents' Dinner attacker, Cole Tomas Allen, has pleaded not guilty to, among other things, charges of attempting to kill President Trump.

A man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while armed with guns and knives pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he attempted to kill President Donald Trump and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer who tried to stop the attack.

Cole Tomas Allen was handcuffed and shackled and wearing an orange jail uniform when he appeared in federal court for his arraignment. Allen didn’t speak during the brief hearing. One of his attorneys entered the plea on his behalf.

There are no surprises in any of this; this is what legal due process looks like, and even accused, would-be presidential assassins are entitled to due process. Like any accused, he is entitled to trial by a jury of his peers, of defense counsel, of the right to confront his accusers, and so forth.

Allen's attorneys are making one rather interesting request:

Allen’s lawyers are asking U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden to disqualify at least two top Justice Department officials from direct involvement in prosecuting him because they could be considered victims or witnesses in the case, creating a potential conflict of interest.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro were attending the event when Allen ran through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer, authorities said. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm said the defense likely would seek to disqualify Pirro’s entire office from involvement in the case.

It's hard to imagine what effect it may have on the government's case to disqualify the entire office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, but the judge has yet to rule on that request.

Last Tuesday, Allen was indicted on four counts:

The Indictment returned by the federal grand jury also charges Allen, of Torrance, California, with Assaulting an Officer or Employee of the United States with a Deadly Weapon, with Transportation of a Firearm and Ammunition in Interstate Commerce with the Intent to Commit a Felony, and with Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.   

This is the next step in that process. 

Read More: Judge Apologizes to Would-Be Trump Assassin, Sparks Outrage

‘Premeditated’: Pirro Says Evidence in WHCD Shooting Now Tells a Much Darker Story

If convicted, Cole Tomas Allen could spend the rest of his life in prison. The maximum penalties for the charges brought against him include:

• Attempted Assassination of the President (18 U.S.C. § 1751(c)): Max penalty, life in prison.
• Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence 18 U.S.C. § 924(c): Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
• Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Deadly Weapon (18 U.S.C. § 111(b)): Max penalty, 20 years in prison.
• Interstate Transportation of a Firearm to Commit a Felony (18 U.S.C. § 924(b)) Max penalty, 10 years in prison.

This remains a developing story, and likely will be for some time. Stay tuned.

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