The man who authorities say tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with guns and knives is charged with the attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump and will remain at least temporarily behind bars as the case moves forward.
Cole Tomas Allen appears in court to face federal charges in a chaotic encounter that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being rushed off the stage, and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables. Allen was taken into custody after the shooting on Saturday night and sat beside his lawyers in a brief appearance today in Washington’s federal court.
In addition to being charged with attempting to assassinate the Republican president, Allen also faces two firearms charges. He did not enter a plea.
A judge granted a prosecutor’s request today to keep Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, detained, pending additional hearings. One of Allen’s lawyers, Tezira Abe, asked for a detention hearing and noted that Allen has no criminal record.
“He also is presumed innocent at this time,” she says.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 27, 2026
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