WHCA Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen pleads not guilty, judge scoffs at defense’s power play

WHCA Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen pleads not guilty, judge scoffs at defense’s power play

The Torrance, California, man faces four charges including assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon

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Defense seeks removal of DOJ officials in attempted Trump assassination case

Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett discusses the defense's motion to remove U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Acting A.G. Todd Blanche from Cole Allen's case. The defense argues conflict of interest, citing their presence at the event.

The man accused of attempting to kill President Donald Trump on April 25 at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner entered a plea in a Washington, D.C., federal court Monday morning to four charges related to the alleged crime.

Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, transporting a firearm across state lines and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.

President Donald Trump posted a photo on social media showing law enforcement detaining Cole Thomas Allen following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (US President Trump via Truth Social/Anadolu/Getty Images)

More charges are possible, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.

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But Allen's defense attorneys want Pirro and her office removed from the case, citing a "conflict of interest" stemming from the fact that Pirro was a victim if their client's alleged crime, they said in a court filing on Friday.

They also cited Pirro's personal friendship with Trump.

"As this case proceeds closer to trial, the country and the world will continue to wonder—how can the American justice system permit a victim to prosecute a criminal defendant in a case involving them?" the motion asks. "Or even—how can one of the victim’s closest friends prosecute the alleged perpetrator of the offense? Given U.S. Attorney Pirro’s friendship with the President and her and Acting A.G. Blanche’s attendance at the event at the center of this prosecution, the law necessitates their disqualification."

Eugene Ohm, Allen's public defender, told Judge Trevor McFadden on Monday that it's likely they would ask for Pirro's entire office to be taken off the case.

However, Ohm said it was unlikely they would ask for the entire Department of Justice to be forced off the case as part of the Blanche request.

"That would be quite a request," McFadden said.

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This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Peter D'Abrosca is a reporter at Fox News Digital covering crime and campus extremism in higher education.

Follow Peter on X at @pmd_reports. Send story tips to peter.dabrosca@fox.com.

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