WASHINGTON — Cole Allen pleaded not guilty Monday during his arraignment in federal court in Washington on charges that he attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump at a Washington hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. The 31-year-old from Torrance, California, appeared wearing an orange jail uniform, handcuffed and shackled, and did not speak during the brief hearing as his attorney entered the plea on his behalf.

The Department of Justice charged Allen with attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege Allen shot a Secret Service agent with a shotgun during the attack, but the agent's vest prevented serious injury.

Law enforcement officials arrested Allen after he allegedly rushed past Secret Service agents at the hotel where Trump was attending the dinner. Officials said Allen attempted his attack near the ballroom shortly after the dinner began, prompting an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents safeguarding the event. Video and photographs released by Trump and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro show a man sprinting through a security checkpoint at the hotel while agents responded. The shooting was not captured on the video distributed to the public by the Trump administration.

Authorities say Allen carried a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun he purchased the previous year and a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol he bought in 2023. They say he planned the attack and took a photograph of himself in his hotel room minutes before the incident wearing an ammunition bag and a shoulder gun holster, and carrying a sheathed knife. In a message sent to family members minutes before the attack, Allen described himself as "Friendly Federal Assassin." and criticized recent actions taken by the U.S. government under Trump without naming the president directly. Investigators said emails preset with an "Apology and Explanation." attachment were sent at about 8:30 p.m. that night, and the government said Allen repeatedly checked online live coverage to track Trump's status, including while the president exited his vehicle at the Hilton hotel.

"He intended to kill and fired his shotgun while trying to breach security and attack his target. Put simply, the defendant poses an uncommonly serious danger to the community 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 in a court filing.

Allen's federal public defender said he is presumed innocent. His attorney is seeking to remove several DOJ officials from the case, citing their close relationships with Trump and their presence in the room during the incident.

At a White House press briefing two hours after the incident, Trump addressed the matter. "When you're impactful, they go after you. When you're not impactful, they leave you alone. They seem to think he was a lone wolf," he said.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, is presiding over the case and will set a schedule for the next stages of the trial.