By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have filed an additional terrorism charge against Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who is accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April, alleging that the attack was intended to influence government policy and intimidate civilians.
A federal grand jury returned the superseding indictment Thursday, Nov. 12, adding a charge of committing an act of terrorism while armed to four existing criminal counts. The indictment was unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to the Justice Department.
The development was also reported by The Hill, which detailed the allegations surrounding the April 25 attack at the Washington Hilton.
Prosecutors allege that Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, arrived at the hotel armed with a shotgun, a handgun, ammunition and several knives while Trump and other senior administration officials attended the annual dinner.
Shortly after 8:30 p.m., Allen allegedly ran through a security checkpoint on the hotel’s terrace level and headed toward the stairs leading to the ballroom where the president was located.
According to investigators, Allen fired a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, striking a U.S. Secret Service officer in the chest. The officer returned fire five times before Allen was restrained and arrested by law enforcement personnel.
The officer survived the shooting. Allen sustained a minor knee injury but was not struck by the officer’s gunfire, according to federal authorities.
Investigators reported recovering a shotgun containing a spent cartridge, a Rock Island Armory .38-caliber pistol, additional ammunition, knives, daggers, holsters and other equipment from Allen following his arrest.
The superseding indictment filed Nov. 12 alleges that Allen attempted to kill Trump with the intent to influence government conduct through intimidation or coercion and to intimidate a significant portion of the civilian population.
The additional count was brought under the District of Columbia’s armed terrorism statute and concerns the alleged attempted first-degree murder of the president.
Allen was previously charged with attempting to assassinate the president, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
He has pleaded not guilty to the original charges. As of Friday, he had not entered a plea to the newly added terrorism count.
Federal investigators have also examined writings attributed to Allen that allegedly described plans to target members of the Trump administration.
According to the Justice Department’s original April 27 announcement, investigators recovered communications suggesting Allen had planned an attack involving senior government officials.
Authorities said Allen’s family became aware of his intentions shortly before the shooting and alerted law enforcement.
The investigation has included reviews of firearms purchases, electronic communications and documents allegedly prepared before the incident.
Prosecutors have maintained that the evidence supports charges involving a deliberate attempt to assassinate the president rather than an isolated confrontation with security personnel.
The new indictment follows several months of pretrial proceedings. In June, a federal judge rejected a defense request to disqualify U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche from participating in the prosecution because both had attended the dinner.
The court determined that their presence at the event did not establish a conflict requiring their removal from the case.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Ballantine, Charles R. Jones and Adam P. Barry of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s National Security Section. The FBI’s Washington Field Office is conducting the investigation.
Allen faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 7, 2027, in Washington.
The charges remain allegations, and Allen is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Original article
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