According to prosecutors, Cole Tomas Allen breached a security checkpoint at a hotel hosting the annual press dinner, an event attended by the president and high-ranking officials who were on a different floor at the time.
Allen faced a federal judge in Washington, DC, on Monday, appearing in court with shackles on his hands and feet. His attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
He faces charges of attempting to assassinate a president and assaulting an officer, among other indictments.
The case is overseen by Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by former President Trump. McFadden questioned Allen’s defense team about a previous motion requesting the recusal of US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and other administration officials.
Allen’s lawyers contend that since Pirro and other officials were present at the April 25 dinner and allegedly were targets, she should step down from the case.
Defense attorney Eugene Ohm argued during the hearing, “We often make assumptions about how victims feel.” He added that due to Pirro’s close friendship with Trump, her removal is warranted.
“I’d be very surprised if they were victims in any legal sense,” McFadden said, noting that they did not see the incident.
Ohm said he wanted more information on how Pirro’s office, which is prosecuting Allen, is structured in order to determine if the entire office should also be recused.
“It’s likely we will be asking for the entire office” to be removed from the case, Ohm said, adding that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche should also be recused because of his presence at the dinner.
The next hearing in the case is set for June 29.
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