Alleged WHCA dinner shooter back in court for detention hearing after sinister mirror selfie emerges

Legal expert warns WHCA dinner suspect may face ‘slew of new charges' after destroying defense

Cole Allen, the suspect accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, is expected to face additional charges after officials confirmed a U.S. Secret Service (USSS) agent was allegedly struck by his gunfire, according to Fox News contributor and legal expert Jonathan Turley.

USSS Director Curran confirmed on Thursday that an agent was shot in the vest during the attack, ruling out friendly fire.

Turley explained that the new details make adding an attempted murder of a federal officer charge highly likely.

"If that was buckshot in his vest, the forensics aren't very tough,” Turley said. “I mean, Secret Service agents generally don't use buckshot.”

In addition to the potential attempted murder of an officer charge, Turley told Fox News’ Will Cain on “The Will Cain Show” that he expects a "slew of new charges" stemming from Allen's manifesto.

The detailed manifesto allegedly outlined Allen’s intent to systematically eliminate Trump administration officials, starting from the top and working his way down, while explicitly noting his intention to avoid wounding civilians and media personnel.

Turley said it is possible Allen could face individual charges for each potential target, noting he has left himself with virtually no legal recourse.

“I've never seen a criminal defendant work so methodically to destroy any defense that he might have at trial,” Turley said. “I mean, I've been a criminal defense attorney my entire career. I can't think of a viable defense at this point, unless he's got an evil twin.”

Turley added an insanity defense would likely be unsuccessful.

“It's actually very hard to make an insanity defense work, particularly in the federal system, but he doesn't have a ghost of a chance here,” he said. “He's a high-functioning individual who wrote this manifesto, who did all of this pre-planning, moved these weapons across the country, took pictures of himself, obviously celebrating what he was about to do, and then proceeded to make incriminating statements after he was apprehended. That doesn't leave a whole lot for a jury to do.”

An extensive digital footprint left by the suspect in the attempted attack on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner reveals weeks of meticulous planning, a cross-country journey and a manifesto that mocked the event's security measures.

The suspect, identified as Cole Allen, allegedly spent weeks studying the event's details, searching the layout of the dinner and booking a hotel room nearly a month in advance.

On the day of the attack, officials claim he tracked Trump's schedule in real-time and watched a live broadcast of the president's arrival just moments before rushing security.

Allen’s extensive digital trail, which also included rideshare receipts and records of cross-country train travel, was almost presented to the public at a court hearing Thursday. However, the defense team switched strategies and agreed to Allen’s detention.

Brett Tolman, executive director of Right on Crime and a former federal prosecutor, told Fox News’ John Roberts Thursday on “America Reports” that prosecutors would have but the evidence on display to prove Allen was a danger to the community.

"The government was ready to go into all that evidence ... and wanted to actually put on display the reasons why he should be detained, even before trial," Tolman said. "But then the defense switched, indicated that they would agree to detention, and the government wasn't allowed to put [out] any of that evidence."

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 11.

U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran on Thursday confirmed one of his agents was shot in the chest by suspected White House Correspondents' Association dinner shooter Cole Allen after President Donald Trump shut down allegations of a "friendly fire" incident.

Curran said Allen shot the agent, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, while charging through security.

The agent returned fire as he was falling, missing five shots at Allen, he said.

Curran added the agent who was shot was the only person, other than Allen, who fired a weapon during the event, silencing skepticism that the agent could have been wounded by friendly fire.

While the government initially alleged in a criminal complaint that Allen shot a U.S. Secret Service officer, the claim was not mentioned in a memo filed by the Justice Department.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche previously said the "initial analysis of the ballistics evidence [did] not support the government’s theory of the case," and described the evidence collection process as "very complicated."

President Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters in the White House Oval Office that he "doesn't think about" potential assassination attempts on his life because it would make him ineffective.

The president's comments come less than a week after a lone gunman allegedly opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner inside the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday.

"I don't think about it," Trump said, adding that if he did, he "wouldn't be doing a very good job here."

"I'd be thinking about nothing but that," the president told reporters. "I don't think about it. ... If I did, I wouldn't be effective."

The incident on Saturday marked the third major attempt on Trump's life since 2024.

Prior assassination attempts included the July 2024 shooting at a Trump campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, and an incident in September of the same year where an armed gunman was intercepted at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Attorneys representing Cole Allen argued the government lacks critical physical evidence in the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner case and has retreated from earlier claims about the high-profile attempted assassination, prompting a strong response from President Donald Trump Thursday afternoon.

Defense attorneys said in a request for pretrial release that the government has not claimed in its court filings that Allen ever actually fired any of his weapons during the Washington Hilton Hotel attack on Saturday, and that online video of the incident shows "no muzzle flash from the shotgun."

While the government initially alleged in a criminal complaint that Allen shot a U.S. Secret Service officer, defense attorneys said prosecutors "apparently retreated from the theory by not mentioning the alleged officer at all in its memorandum."

Speaking to reporters in the White House Oval Office on Thursday, Trump reiterated that the agent was shot by Allen, saying it was "not friendly fire."

"That's what I heard," Trump said. "... I'm just saying they said it wasn't friendly fire and it wasn't us."

The president added the bulletproof vest the agent was wearing "did an amazing job because it took a bullet close up."

"He didn't even want to go to the hospital," Trump said. "We sent him to the hospital just in case ... it's still a hit, but he didn't want to go to the hospital. The vest totally protected him."

It is unclear why the officer's injury may not have been mentioned in the Justice Department's memo. However, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche previously indicated that the "initial analysis of the ballistics evidence [did] not support the government’s theory of the case," and described the evidence collection process as "very complicated."

Newly released court documents show Cole Allen's defense is strongly pushing back against government's characterization of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner attack as an intended "mass shooting."

Defense attorneys argued in a memo in support of pretrial release that Allen was armed with a pump-action shotgun, which "has the opposite feature of an automatic weapon that is designed to expel multiple projectiles upon a single pull of the trigger."

Attorneys also pointed to a letter Allen left for authorities to prove he wasn't looking for mass casualties.

"In order to minimize casualties I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls)," Allen wrote.

Allen also allegedly left 20 rounds of ammunition and a third magazine behind in his hotel room, though it is unclear why he did so.

Attorneys painted Allen as a highly educated "devout Christian" who graduated from the California Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering and holds a master's degree in computer science.

They describe him as a "loved and respected teacher" with no criminal history.

Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty called out the left for letting their "hatred of Trump poison the body politic," saying Erika Kirk’s recent comments about dangerous rhetoric are “spot on.”

While speaking on Fox News’ “The Faulkner Focus” Thursday, Trusty expressed sympathy for Kirk, who was present at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner during Thursday’s assassination attempt against President Donald Trump.

He emphasized the "unbearable" trauma she had to endure given the public assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, in September.

“She’s right,” Trusty said, referencing her concern about dangerous rhetoric from the left. “There's a lot of, not necessarily legal blame, but a ton of moral blame to throw around right now in terms of this culture of these Democrats.”

Trusty highlighted a double standard, noting the same critics who once accused conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh of inciting violence are now "openly calling for assassination or celebrating it.”

On the heels of the most recent assassination attempt at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, Trusty warned that by demonizing Trump as a "Hitler figure," politicians are sending a dangerous message of "self-righteous approval.”

Trusty argued the rhetoric emboldens “loose strands” like attempted Trump assassins Cole Allen or Ryan Routh to feel justified in carrying out violent acts.

He added high-profile figures have a responsibility to be exemplary citizens, rather than contributing to a toxic environment that yields "very tangible results.”

Fox News legal editor Kerri Urbahn suggested that prosecutors could potentially seek a terrorism sentencing enhancement for Cole Allen, the suspect accused of opening fire inside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “The Faulkner Focus” on Thursday, Urbahn noted Allen’s alleged behavior and manifesto allegedly indicate a clear attempt to "intimidate the government" and a "civilian population" based on his political beliefs.

While a terrorism enhancement remains a possibility, Urbahn explained the government's immediate focus in court on Thursday was ensuring Allen remains behind bars until his trial.

A detention hearing for the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner concluded Thursday with the suspect remaining in federal custody.

Cole Allen, 31, has been held in 24-hour lockdown since his arrest Saturday night, his defense attorney said.

He did not challenge the Department of Justice's request for him to remain detained as proceedings continue, but the defense did ask the judge to lift the 24-hour lockdown in jail.

Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya did not grant the defense's request to avoid overstepping the jail's authority.The judge said she is unsure if she has the authority to grant the defense’s request and therefore would not override the jail’s authority on the matter, adding that if the defense team wanted to file a motion on the matter, she would hear arguments from both sides.  

Allen is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on May 11. 

Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this post.

The suspect accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner is currently being held in a 24-hour lockdown following his arrest Saturday, defense attorneys revealed.

Appearing in federal court Thursday, Cole Allen, 31, did not challenge the Department of Justice's request for him to remain in custody as proceedings continue.

However, Allen’s defense attorney requested that his client be removed from 24-hour lockdown while in federal custody.

Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya said she is unsure if she has the authority to grant the defense’s request, and therefore would not override the jail’s authority on the matter. The judge added that if the defense team wanted to file a motion on the matter, she would hear arguments from both sides.

Allen is facing three federal counts, including attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, after prosecutors say he traveled from his home in California to D.C. to carry out a planned attack against President Donald Trump and other high-level federal officials during the annual gala.

Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this post.

Cole Allen, the suspect accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, conceded detention during a hearing in federal court Thursday. 

The decision was relayed through his attorney, who added that Allen’s defense team had difficulties meeting with him ahead of the detention hearing. 

The move means Allen is not challenging the Department  of Justice’s request to keep him in custody as proceedings continue. 

Allen, 31, is facing three federal counts, including attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, after prosecutors say he traveled to D.C. to carry out a planned attack against Trump and other high-level Cabinet officials.

The government still wanted to put on its evidence as to why Allen should be held. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya said that was inefficient and denied the government’s request.

Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this post.

Images from surveillance video outside the Washington Hilton ballroom obtained by The Washington Post show the moment when an alleged would-be assassin of President Donald Trump charges toward a security checkpoint where he was fired upon by a Secret Service agent.

The photos show several Secret Service agents reacting as Cole Allen, 31, allegedly attempted to gain access to the room that was teeming with high-level government officials, including Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the first and second ladies.

Agents can be seen breaking down one of two magnetometers as the suspect bolted toward them. One agent draws his weapon and fires at the suspect. The photos show four muzzle flashes from those shots. A Wednesday court filing from federal prosecutors said the agent fired five shots but did not strike Allen.

TSA agents, who often partner with Secret Service for security at events featuring the president, can also be seen witnessing the mayhem, as well as a plainclothes security guard who, in one frame, can be seen unholstering his sidearm.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca.

The Department of Justice urged a federal court to keep Cole Allen, the suspect accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, behind bars pending trial in a filing Wednesday.

The DOJ's filing includes new photos showing Allen armed and inside a hotel room before the shooting unfolded.

In the mirror selfie, the defendant appears in formal attire, wearing a red necktie along with a shoulder holster, and carrying a sheathed knife, pliers and wire cutters. In the filing the government wrote, "The defendant was willing to commit a mass shooting inside a room full of the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. government."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg.

Alleged White House Correspondents' Association Dinner gunman Cole Allen’s digital trail is coming into focus as he’s set to appear in court for his detention hearing at 11 a.m. in Washington, D.C., federal court.

Backing up the government’s push to keep him in custody, the Justice Department filed a memorandum including photos allegedly showing Allen with firearms in his hotel room.

Allen, 31, is facing three federal counts, including attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, after prosecutors say he traveled to D.C. to carry out a planned attack against Trump and other high-level Cabinet officials.

Footage showed Allen as he allegedly rushed through a Secret Service checkpoint in the Washington Hilton’s lobby and fired his weapon just steps from where Trump, several Cabinet officials and members of the media were enjoying the start of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.