Emotionless suspected Trump gunman Cole Allen appears in court as he’s charged with attempted assassination

Alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner attacker Cole Tomas Allen appeared emotionless in court for the first time as he faces major new federal charges including the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

The Justice Department charged Allen, 31, with attempting to storm the dinner and target Trump and administration officials by passing through a Secret Service checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives.

The suspect allegedly engaged in an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents at the checkpoint outside the ballroom where President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were present.

The alleged gunman appeared in court for the first time on Monday wearing a blue prison jumpsuit and was accused of attempting to assassinate the US President. This charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Allen appeared impassive and calm, holding his handcuffed hands in his lap as the three charges were read by prosecutors.

He spoke in a quiet tone when asked to give his full name before the court.

Allen also faces a second charge of carrying a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a crime.

The third charge, use of a firearm during a violent crime, carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as the possibility of life in prison if prosecutors prove the gun was fired.

Allen is represented by court-appointed attorneys. In response to a question from Federal Judge Matthew J Sharpe, he said there were no drugs in his system.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro entered the courtroom five minutes before the start. He was wearing a light blue shirt and a white jacket.

He was sitting calmly with the two lawyers, nodding occasionally when they spoke to him. He was read his rights and said he understood.

His next hearing is on Thursday at 11 a.m. ET. He has not yet made a defence.

Federal prosecutors announced Saturday, hours after the incident, that Allen would be arraigned on weapons charges.

Donald Trump and his top officials were escorted out of the dinner by Secret Service agents after four shots were fired outside the ballroom.

Allen smuggled a shotgun into the Hilton Hotel where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was held

Although Allen was quickly subdued and did not enter the large dining hall, many in attendance were concerned about how an armed man was able to enter the building, especially after two previous assassination attempts on the President’s life.

The Mossberg Maverick 12-gauge gun he was allegedly holding as he passed through the security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton was seen on the carpeted floor.

It was just one of the weapons Allen allegedly brought to the event.

Authorities said the attacker was also armed with a gun and knives as he ran to the security checkpoint on the upper floor of the reception.

After gunshots were exchanged with the police, the armed attacker was laid on the ground.

When he was arrested, Allen was just feet away from a Saturday evening dinner where the President, Vice President, First Lady and most of Trump’s cabinet were dining.

Allen was reportedly staying at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner was held.

He avoided the hotel’s highly monitored corridors by passing through an interior staircase that was not monitored as closely as the corridors and elevators.

After running down the stairwell about 10 floors, the gunman emerged on a lower level, near the initial screening area where magnetometers and the Secret Service were stationed.

There were concerns about how Allen was able to bring the shotgun, pistol and knives to the hotel undetected.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro entered the courtroom five minutes before

He was arrested on a floor above the reception, but if he had been able to continue down another flight of stairs he would have been able to breach the dining hall where Trump and his top officials were dining.

Trump, who was evacuated to the White House after gunshots, noted that the hotel was not a particularly safe place.

According to a memo he sent to family members moments before his planned attack, Allen was trying to eliminate the President and members of his inner circle.

According to the New York Post, Allen’s manifesto read: ‘Turning the other cheek is for times when you’re under pressure. I am not someone who was raped in a detention camp. ‘I am not a fisherman who was executed without trial.’

An agent who was shot while wearing a bulletproof vest has been released from the hospital and is in good spirits, according to the President.