THE man accused of carrying out a shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal offences, including the attempted assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Cole Tomas Allen appeared before a federal court in Washington DC, where his legal team entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf to charges including attempted murder of the president, assaulting federal officers and firearms-related offences.
The case stems from a shooting incident in April at a hotel hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event attended by journalists, government officials and political figures.
According to U.S. media reports, Allen’s defence team is seeking to disqualify several senior Justice Department officials from overseeing the prosecution. Those named include U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Defence lawyers argued that the officials in question could potentially be called as witnesses or regarded as possible victims because they attended the event and later commented publicly on the shooting.
The U.S. Department of Justice has been given until 22 June to respond to motions filed by Allen’s legal team, while the next hearing in the case is scheduled for 29 June.
The incident has intensified security concerns surrounding high-profile political gatherings in Washington, particularly events involving senior government leaders and members of the national press corps. - May 12, 2026
