Suspect in Trump attempted assassination pleads not guilty

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]The man accused of attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner last month pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday. Cole Allen did not speak in court as his attorney entered the plea on his behalf. The charges include attempted assassination of the president, assault on a federal officer, and firearms offenses. Prosecutors allege Allen fired a shotgun at a US Secret Service agent and stormed a security checkpoint in a foiled attack on Trump and other members of his administration at the event. Allen, who's from California, allegedly traveled to Washington by train carrying a shotgun, pistol, and knives and booked a room at the Washington Hilton where the April 25th dinner took place. The proceeding previewed the next major legal battle in the case. Allen's attempt to have acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and US Attorney Jessie Piro disqualified from the case because they were present at the dinner and may have been among Allen's alleged targets. A lawyer for Allen has said the defense is likely to seek recusal of the entire US Attorney's office in Washington. Piro previously told CNN in an interview that, quote, "My ability to prosecute this case has nothing to do with my being there."