WHCD gunman Cole Allen talking to feds about plea deal, lawyers reveal
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WASHINGTON — White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman Cole Allen is talking to federal prosecutors about taking a plea deal, his lawyers revealed Monday.
Allen entered the DC federal courtroom in an orange jumpsuit and shackles for the 10-minute hearing, where Department of Justice attorneys and the alleged assassin’s defense team mentioned a possible plea agreement.
“No plea offer has been extended up to this point,” noted prosecutor Adam Berry.
Defense lawyer Tezira Abe added, “There has been a potential discussion of a plea.”
Allen faces a maximum of up to life in prison if convicted of allegedly trying to assassinate President Trump and top members of his administration.
The Post observed prosecutors handing over digital evidence to Allen’s defense attorneys ahead of the hearing.
Berry clarified to US District Judge Trevor McFadden that the files included “a number of forensic images” that were obtained “pursuant to search warrants” of Allen’s digital devices at various locations.
On May 5, prosecutors indicted the 31-year-old school teacher from Torrance, Calif., for attempting to assassinate Trump, assault on an officer of the US with a deadly weapon, transporting a firearm across state lines to commit a felony and discharging the gun during a crime of violence.
Armed with a pump-action shotgun and multiple knives, Allen stormed the black-tie soiree at the Washington Hilton on April 25 and shot at a Secret Service agent — hitting him in his bulletproof vest — before being subdued by other officers.
A manifesto, first reported by The Post, claimed the indicted shooter was “no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
The document — signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen” — referenced Trump and listed several of his administration officials as targets. At least 13 members in the line of presidential succession came to the annual dinner.
Previously, Allen’s lawyers tried to get Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro thrown off the case since they were in attendance — but the judge denied that motion last week.
The defense claimed Blanche and Pirro were conflicted by both their attendance at the Hilton and their close personal relationships with Trump, based on public statements they had made about the president.
McFadden disagreed and wrote in an order that neither were likely to be witnesses at trial and hadn’t met the legal definition of victims.
“Their statements about the investigation and friendships with the President likewise present no basis for screening them from the case,” he also wrote.
McFadden scheduled the next status conference for Aug. 20, agreeing with prosecutors and the defense that the complexity of the case warranted more time to review evidence.
On June 23, the DC jurist had signed off on a protective order limiting the disclosure of some evidence to any parties other than the defense attorneys due to them disclosing personal identifying information or law enforcement tactics.