Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, has failed in his attempt to have U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro removed from the case.
Background
Allen was arrested on April 25, 2026, and subsequently indicted in early May on federal charges alleging he shot a Secret Service officer and attempted to assassinate Trump during the high-profile event. The case has drawn significant attention given its political implications and the involvement of top Justice Department officials who were present at the dinner.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche both attended the dinner where the alleged attack occurred. Following Allen's arrest, both prosecutors made public statements vowing to pursue maximum punishment against anyone who engaged in such acts of violence in Washington, D.C.
The Charges
Allen faces serious federal charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, and related weapons offenses. In seeking disqualification, Allen argued that Pirro's friendship with President Trump and her presence at the alleged crime scene created an appearance of impropriety warranting her removal from the case.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee sitting in Washington, D.C., issued an order Monday denying the motion in its entirety. The court found that neither Pirro's nor Blanche's attendance at the dinner nor their subsequent public statements demonstrated a conflict of interest under longstanding legal precedent.
"In line with longstanding precedent, the Court finds that neither the officials' dinner attendance nor their statements after the fact demonstrate a conflict of interest," McFadden wrote. "Nor does Pirro's friendship with the President."
The judge acknowledged the unusual circumstances but determined that both prosecutors are unlikely to be trial witnesses and do not meet the legal definition of victims in the case.
Key Takeaways
- Cole Tomas Allen remains charged with allegedly shooting a Secret Service officer and attempting to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
- Judge McFadden rejected arguments that Pirro's friendship with President Trump created an appearance of impropriety
- Both Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will continue prosecuting the case
- The judge found no basis for screening either official from the prosecution despite their presence at the alleged crime scene
What's Next
Allen will proceed to trial on the federal charges against him. No trial date has been set, and pre-trial motions continue in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. under Pirro's leadership.