Pirro calls mass shooting an ‘assassination attempt’ on Trump at press conference
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in Washington, D.C., said the investigation into Cole Thomas Allen was ongoing and called the incident an “assassination attempt.”
Acts that are “premeditated, violent, and calculated to cause death.” The “most serious” crime under U.S. law. “There is a possibility of a life sentence.”
The Justice Department has no hesitation in keeping the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump locked up.
In an April 29 court filing asking a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to keep Cole Thomas Allen in custody ahead of his trial, government lawyers essentially said there were no bail conditions that would keep others safe if Allen were released.
“As long as the president and his cabinet continue to appear in public, as they undoubtedly will, the defendant’s motivation for violence remains,” they said.
The Justice Department also released a new photo of Allen that it said was taken shortly before the attack. The enhanced image shows a man wearing a sheathed knife, pliers and wire cutters, which match items later recovered by law enforcement during his arrest, the Justice Department said.
In addition to attempting to assassinate the president, Allen is charged with transporting a firearm and ammunition to commit a felony and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose D.C. staff is prosecuting the case, has vowed to file additional charges as the investigation progresses.
If Allen is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
The incident occurred after Allen was arrested on April 25 for an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Several senior government officials attended the dinner, including Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
According to the indictment, Allen planned to attack the dinner party on foot with multiple guns and knives, starting with the highest-ranking officials. Prosecutors said the suspect emailed family, friends and a former employer about his plans minutes before the attack.
Tejira Abe, one of two lawyers appointed to represent Allen, gave a preview of what the defense may make in seeking conditions for Allen’s release at the April 27 proceeding. Prime Minister Abe told the judge that Allen had no previous arrests or convictions and was presumed innocent under the law.
In a new filing, government lawyers agreed that Mr. Allen had a clean criminal record, but said he was still a danger to the public.
“Although the defendant apparently has no prior contact with the criminal justice system, his personal history and circumstances indicate that conditions less restrictive than incarceration cannot reasonably guarantee the safety of the community while this case proceeds,” the attorney said.
