Washington suspect charged with attempting Trump assassination | JQJO

WASHINGTON — A federal magistrate judge on Monday said Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, has been charged with attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington. Prosecutors allege Allen fired a shotgun at a U.S. Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint inside the Washington Hilton hotel as he tried to breach the perimeter of the black-tie event, which was attended by senior Trump administration officials and where Trump was scheduled to speak. The Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a tactical vest and was released from a hospital hours later. Allen, who appeared in court in a blue prison jumpsuit and said he holds a master’s degree in computer science, also faces firearms offenses in a three-count federal complaint and has not yet entered a plea.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Allen detained while the case proceeds and set a further hearing on his continued detention for Thursday. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine told the court that Allen “attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J Trump,” and authorities said he travelled by train from California and booked a room at the Washington Hilton before the attack. Officials said Allen left a manifesto with family members in which he referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and discussed plans to target senior Trump administration officials present at the dinner. The incident, which sent guests scrambling for cover and prompted security to rush Trump from the stage, has renewed concerns about Trump’s safety after two earlier assassination attempts during his 2024 presidential campaign, even as law enforcement officials frame the swift takedown of the suspect as a security success.