Man charged with trying to kill Trump took hotel room selfie before rushing gala, investigators say
Man accused of trying raided the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner President Donald Trump was photographed in his hotel room moments earlier with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster and a sheathed knife, authorities said in a new court filing Wednesday.
Authorities said Cole Allen wore black pants, a black shirt and a red tie when he took the photo in his room at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and hundreds of reporters met for the gala Saturday night.
Investigators say the 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, was caught trying to get past security barricades near the hotel ballroom, prompting an exchange of gunfire between Secret Service agents assigned to guard the event.
New details emerged in the file submitted to the court by prosecutors who wanted Allen to remain in custody. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
The government said Allen made repeated online checks to monitor Trump’s condition that night, including a livestream of the president exiting his vehicle at the Hilton hotel. Investigators said the prearranged emails, which included an “Apology and Explanation” attachment, were sent around 8:30 p.m.
“He intended to kill and fired his shotgun while attempting to breach security and attack his target. Simply put, the defendant poses an unusually serious danger to the public if released pending trial. The defendant’s lack of criminal history and other personal circumstances do not alter this conclusion,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones wrote.
Republican Trump escaped unscathed. A Secret Service officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot through the vest and survived.
Allen appeared in court Monday and was charged with attempting to assassinate the president after authorities suggested an attack that would disrupt one of Washington’s most spectacular events had been planned for at least several weeks. Tezira Abe, a member of the defense team, said he is “presumed innocent at this time.”
Meanwhile, ahead of Thursday’s hearing, a magistrate judge ordered the District of Columbia jail to allow Allen unlimited visits with his attorneys. Lawyers complained about not being able to meet him privately.
“Mr. Allen was forced to sit inside a cage locked with a five-point safety and speak on the phone – of which there is only one – to speak to the attorney,” Abe and his assistant attorney, Eugene Ohm, said in a court filing. “The attorney was forced to sit in an open lobby area with prison staff and other attorneys standing nearby who were able to hear the attorney’s entire conversation.”
FBI statement submitted On Monday, further details emerged about the planning behind the attack on the hotel; Authorities allege Allen reserved a room for himself at the Hilton on April 6, where the event would be held weeks later under his management. typical tight security. HE traveled by train across the country He came from California and checked into the hotel the day before dinner, with a room reserved for the weekend.
Trump was escorted off stage by his security team on Saturday night and emerged at the White House two hours later, still wearing his tuxedo.
“When you are effective, they come after you. When you are not impressive, they leave you alone,” the President said. “They think he’s a lone wolf.”
