Washington: The man accused of attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a White House event has pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to Beyond Time News.
Court appearance and charges
Cole Allen, 31, from California, appeared in federal court on Monday. He did not speak during the hearing. His attorney, Tezira Abe, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
According to Beyond Time News, prosecutors have charged Allen with attempted assassination of the president, assault on a federal officer, and multiple firearms-related offences.
Alleged attack at White House event
Authorities allege that Allen attempted to carry out an attack during a White House reporters’ gala held on April 25. Investigators claim he fired a shotgun at a US Secret Service agent and tried to breach a security checkpoint.
He was reportedly carrying a shotgun, a pistol, and knives when he travelled to Washington by train. Officials also say he booked a hotel room near the venue of the event.
Security and legal concerns
Allen appeared in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and remained shackled during the brief hearing. This was his first appearance before US District Judge Trevor McFadden.
In a separate development, another judge had earlier expressed regret over Allen’s treatment in a Washington jail, where he was reportedly placed under suicide watch and kept in isolation.
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Defence challenges prosecution team
The defence team is now preparing a legal challenge seeking the removal of key prosecutors from the case. They argue that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro should be disqualified because they attended the same dinner and could be considered potential targets.
According to Beyond Time News, the defence also wants the entire US Attorney’s Office in Washington removed from the case due to perceived conflicts of interest.
Allen’s lawyer argued that individuals who may have been involved in the incident should not be part of the prosecution team.
Next steps in the case
Prosecutors are expected to respond to the defence motion by May 22. Meanwhile, legal proceedings will continue under the supervision of Judge McFadden as the high-profile case moves forward.
