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Justice Department officials revealed more about the suspect’s plan before the attack, and they also characterized the law enforcement response as *** success and warn against similar violent acts. New court documents show 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen is charged with three federal crimes. First, an attempt to assassinate the president, along with two other firearms charges. Prosecutors promise more charges as the investigation continues. The Justice Department says Allen ran past security checkpoints at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner holding *** long gun. He was targeting the president and other administration officials, according to an alleged manifesto discovered after the attack. Law enforcement did not fail. They did exactly what they are trained to do. An affidavit reveals more details about the planned assault. Authorities say Allen reserved his room at the Washington Hilton April 6th and traveled by train on April 21st from his home near LA to Chicago and arrived in DC on April 24th. Agents heard *** gunshot as Allen breached. The night of the dinner, investigators say *** Secret Service agent was hit in his bulletproof vest, but they’re still determining the source of that gunshot. That agent fired 5 shots. Allen was not hit but fell to the ground and was arrested. And while prosecutors promised to reveal more on the investigation, the DOJ issued *** warning to. Anyone planning another attack, we will find you. We will track your steps from the inception of your plan, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. Allen did not enter *** plea in court today. He remains in federal detention through at least Thursday for his next court appearance. Reporting at the White House, I’m Amy Liu.
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‘Apology and Explanation’: New details in the WHCD shooting timeline
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, faces at least three federal charges after allegedly breaching security at the White House correspondents’ dinner with firearms and knives.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, appeared in federal court for the first time on Monday. Authorities said Allen attempted to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday with guns and knives. Newly released court documents show Allen is charged with three crimes: Attempt to assassinate the president of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors have promised additional charges as the investigation unfolds. An affidavit released Monday revealed more details about the planned assault. Authorities said Allen reserved his room at the Washington Hilton on April 6. He traveled by train from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago on April 2, stopped in Chicago on April 23, and arrived in Washington, D.C., on April 24, a day before the attack.The affidavit also described the chaotic moments of the incident.Video below: Timeline, suspect’s alleged letter detailed in new court documentsOfficials wrote that he ran past security checkpoints at the White House correspondents’ dinner, holding a long gun. And, according to an alleged manifesto discovered after the attack, Allen targeted the president and other administration officials.Agents allegedly heard a gunshot as Allen breached security the night of the dinner. Investigators said a Secret Service agent was hit in his bulletproof vest, though they could not determine who fired the specific shot. That agent returned fire with five shots, and while Allen was not hit, he fell to the ground and was arrested.Prosecutors said Allen was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, two semi-automatic handguns, and at least three knives. They said Allen purchased the firearms in California and brought them across state lines to carry out the attack.Court documents also included a letter, titled “Apology and Explanation,” that was emailed to members of Allen’s family and a former employer shortly before he breached the secured area. Authorities said they obtained a copy from a recipient.The letter read, in part, “I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it. Again, my sincere apologies.” It continued, “What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.” In a news conference Monday, Justice Department officials described the law enforcement response as a “success.””Law enforcement did not fail. They did exactly what they are trained to do,” Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, said. “This was not an accident. It was the result, as we know now, of preparation.” Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, warned against similar acts of violence.”We will find you, we will track your steps from the inception of your plan, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” Pirro said.Allen did not enter a plea in court Monday and remains in federal detention through at least Thursday, when his next court appearance is scheduled.Watch the latest on the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner:
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, appeared in federal court for the first time on Monday. Authorities said Allen attempted to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday with guns and knives.
Newly released court documents show Allen is charged with three crimes: Attempt to assassinate the president of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors have promised additional charges as the investigation unfolds.
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An affidavit released Monday revealed more details about the planned assault.
Authorities said Allen reserved his room at the Washington Hilton on April 6. He traveled by train from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago on April 2, stopped in Chicago on April 23, and arrived in Washington, D.C., on April 24, a day before the attack.
The affidavit also described the chaotic moments of the incident.
Video below: Timeline, suspect’s alleged letter detailed in new court documents
Officials wrote that he ran past security checkpoints at the White House correspondents’ dinner, holding a long gun. And, according to an alleged manifesto discovered after the attack, Allen targeted the president and other administration officials.
Agents allegedly heard a gunshot as Allen breached security the night of the dinner. Investigators said a Secret Service agent was hit in his bulletproof vest, though they could not determine who fired the specific shot. That agent returned fire with five shots, and while Allen was not hit, he fell to the ground and was arrested.
Prosecutors said Allen was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, two semi-automatic handguns, and at least three knives. They said Allen purchased the firearms in California and brought them across state lines to carry out the attack.
Court documents also included a letter, titled “Apology and Explanation,” that was emailed to members of Allen’s family and a former employer shortly before he breached the secured area. Authorities said they obtained a copy from a recipient.
The letter read, in part, “I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it. Again, my sincere apologies.” It continued, “What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
In a news conference Monday, Justice Department officials described the law enforcement response as a “success.”
“Law enforcement did not fail. They did exactly what they are trained to do,” Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, said. “This was not an accident. It was the result, as we know now, of preparation.”
Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, warned against similar acts of violence.
“We will find you, we will track your steps from the inception of your plan, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” Pirro said.
Allen did not enter a plea in court Monday and remains in federal detention through at least Thursday, when his next court appearance is scheduled.
Watch the latest on the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner:
