Cole Allen, 31, was charged Monday in federal court with attempting to assassinate President Trump after Saturday night’s shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton.
Court appearance and charges
Allen made an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh in Washington, D.C. The documents in the case were unsealed. He faces three federal charges: attempt to assassinate the president of the United States; transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He did not enter a plea and asked the court to appoint counsel. Prosecutors are seeking his preventive detention. Allen will remain in federal custody and is scheduled to return to court Thursday for a detention hearing; a preliminary hearing is set for May 11.
Affidavit and weapons
A seven-page FBI affidavit filed with charging documents lays out the timeline investigators say led to the shooting. According to the affidavit, Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington between April 21 and 24, checking into the Hilton the day he arrived. Law enforcement said he left a 10th-floor room dressed in black with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives inside a black bag, used an interior stairwell to descend roughly 10 flights, then emerged on the terrace level near a security checkpoint leading to the dinner.
The affidavit says that at about 8:40 p.m. Allen ran through a magnetometer holding a long gun. Secret Service personnel at the checkpoint heard a loud gunshot; Secret Service Officer V.G. was struck in the chest but was wearing a ballistic vest. Officer V.G. drew his service weapon and fired multiple times. The affidavit says Allen fell to the ground, suffered minor injuries but was not shot, and was arrested.
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro displayed photos of weapons she said Allen had on his person: a 12-gauge pump-action Mossberg shotgun, a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38-caliber pistol and “at least three knives and all kinds of paraphernalia.” Prosecutors say Allen purchased the shotgun on or about Aug. 17, 2025, and the pistol on or about Oct. 6, 2023. Pirro said additional charges are expected as the investigation continues and called the incident an attempted assassination.
Investigations and evidence
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel held a press conference outlining investigative steps. Blanche said investigators seized “multiple devices from various locations,” including Allen’s hotel room and his California home, and noted that motive beyond a manifesto remains under investigation. Blanche said the ballistics and other evidence are being examined and that officials are still determining whether the round that hit the Secret Service officer was fired by Allen or by law enforcement; he emphasized investigators want to “get that right.” Blanche defended the overall law enforcement response, saying officers “did not fail.”
Patel said the FBI responded urgently, deployed a mobile command center and sent evidence to its Quantico lab while interviewing numerous witnesses. He praised federal agents on scene as having “done exactly what they were trained to do.”
Secret Service response and security questions
Secret Service Director Sean Curran defended his agents, saying “my agents did a great job.” He told reporters the agency will assess events on a case-by-case basis when considering designating events as National Special Security Events and declined to elaborate on why the security perimeter was placed where it was, citing classified reasons.
Questions about entry procedures at the dinner have surfaced. CBS News analyst Aaron MacLean, who attended the event, said his ID was not checked at any point and that a screenshot of an invitation sufficed to enter. Reports noted magnetometers were used to enter the ballroom but that identification was not required in the hotel. Critics and some lawmakers urged reviews of protocols.
Officials’ reactions and policy proposals
Republican lawmakers and White House officials argued the shooting highlighted the need for better-secured venues. Sen. Lindsey Graham previewed legislation to authorize $400 million in federal funds to build a ballroom attached to the White House with underground Secret Service and security facilities; GOP Sens. Katie Britt and Eric Schmitt joined him. Graham and others said a presidential ballroom could prevent future security risks associated with presidents attending offsite events.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was at the dinner, described the night as “surreal” and said the president was right to call for a secure facility. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting with senior law enforcement and DHS leadership to review security for major events, the White House said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed inflammatory rhetoric from Democrats for inspiring violence and urged Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which she said has been impacted by a shutdown. Leavitt and other administration officials said the president stands by the Secret Service.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has sued to stop construction of the privately funded White House ballroom, said it will not voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit despite a Justice Department letter arguing the shooting underscores the need for a secure on-site venue.
Congressional oversight and briefings
Lawmakers have requested briefings with the Secret Service; the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a bipartisan briefing for Chairman Chuck Grassley and top Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin. Chairs of the House Oversight and Homeland Security committees also sought briefings. Officials emphasized the investigation is ongoing.
Other developments
Acting Attorney General Blanche said investigators found evidence beyond the suspect’s manifesto but declined to detail it publicly. Photos of the weapons provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office were shown at the press conference. Despite the shooting, the planned arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House proceeded after a security review.
Allen remains in federal detention pending further proceedings as authorities continue to analyze evidence and potential additional charges.