Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump pleads not guilty

Cole Tomas Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to an alleged attempt to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during last month’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Allen, 31, entered the plea through his lawyer during an arraignment hearing held Monday at a federal courthouse in Washington, D.C.

The suspect faces four charges, including attempting to assassinate the president and multiple weapons-related offences connected to the April 25 shooting scare at the Washington Hilton hotel.

Allen was represented by public defender Tezira Abe and did not speak during the court proceedings.

Federal prosecutors allege that Allen stormed a Secret Service security checkpoint at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while carrying multiple firearms before exchanging gunfire with law enforcement officers.

Authorities say one Secret Service agent was struck in a bulletproof vest during the confrontation but survived and was later treated and discharged from hospital.

The incident forced the evacuation of President Trump, the First Lady and several senior administration officials from the venue as approximately 2,500 guests took cover under tables and behind chairs.

Investigators believe Allen acted alone.

Court documents cited by U.S. authorities indicate that Allen, a California resident, also faces a charge of transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony.

His legal team has meanwhile requested that senior Justice Department officials, including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, be removed from the prosecution process.

The defence argued that both officials were present at the dinner during the shooting incident and could therefore be considered potential witnesses or victims in the case.

According to investigators, Allen allegedly sent a manifesto to family members shortly before the attack. White House officials also claimed the suspect shared anti-Trump and anti-Christian messages on social media before the incident.

Speaking after the attack in April, Trump described the suspect as a “sick person” and said he “looked pretty evil.”

If convicted on all charges, Allen could face life imprisonment under U.S. federal law.