The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner last weekend will remain behind bars after his legal team conceded to pretrial detention. Cole Allen, 31, faces three federal counts, including attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, for his alleged attempt to storm the annual black-tie event.
During a Thursday hearing, Allen's public defenders told the court he would not fight the government's motion to keep him detained, though they reserved the right to revisit the issue later. Prosecutors had pushed for a full detention hearing, but Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya dismissed that request as “completely inefficient,” noting Allen's agreement.
Federal prosecutors have characterized the attack as an act of political violence, citing a manifesto Allen allegedly sent to family and friends. The document reportedly stated he was targeting senior Trump administration officials but “would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary.” The government argued in court filings that a successful attack could have “destabilized the entire federal government” given the high-ranking officials present, including Trump himself.
Allen's defense initially sought his release, pointing to his clean criminal record, education, employment, and church attendance. They also noted he left nearly half his shotgun ammunition and a third magazine in his hotel room, and that his manifesto never mentions Trump by name. But after meeting with Allen, they reversed course and agreed to detention.
The defense also asked the judge to order Allen removed from 24-hour lockdown in a “safe cell,” but Upadhyaya said she lacked authority over jail conditions. A separate magistrate judge on Wednesday granted unrestricted legal visits as the case proceeds.
New details about the alleged gunman have emerged. According to a recent DOJ filing, Allen took a mirror selfie about 30 minutes before the shooting, wearing a black dress shirt, red tie, and a small leather bag later found to contain ammunition. The photo shows a handgun in a shoulder holster, along with a knife, pliers, and wire cutters on his belt.
Prosecutors also revealed that Allen tracked Trump's movements before the dinner, visiting a presidential schedule page and live coverage of Trump's arrival at the Washington Hilton. Minutes later, he allegedly sent his manifesto and stormed a security checkpoint in an attempt to breach the ballroom.
Allen faces charges of attempting to assassinate the president, transporting firearms with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm in interstate commerce. A conviction on the assassination attempt carries a maximum life sentence, while the other counts carry up to 10 years and a mandatory minimum of 10 consecutive years, respectively.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who attended the dinner, has indicated additional charges are likely as the investigation continues. Allen's preliminary hearing is set for May 11.
