Allen Charged With D.C. Terrorism Count

Federal criminal law has no general domestic-terrorism offense, so the new count is a District of Columbia charge stacked on the attempted-assassination case. Allen has pleaded not guilty to the four counts from the spring and has not entered a plea on this one. Dec. 4 is a status conference, and the trial is set for Sept. 7, 2027.

A federal grand jury in Washington returned a superseding indictment Thursday charging Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, with an act of terrorism while armed under D.C. law. Prosecutors tied that count to an alleged attempt to kill President Donald Trump. The indictment also carries four federal counts: attempting to assassinate the president, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors said a conviction could carry up to life in prison.

The case is the April 25 shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. The president was inside. Prosecutors say that shortly after 8:30 p.m. Allen ran through a Secret Service checkpoint on the terrace level, fired a 12-gauge shotgun, and hit an officer once in the chest. The officer was wearing a ballistic vest and fired five times. Allen fell, was restrained, and was arrested. He was not shot. He had a minor knee injury. The president was not hurt.

Allen pleaded not guilty after the original charges were filed. He has not pleaded to the terrorism count. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden has a status conference on Dec. 4 and a jury trial set for Sept. 7, 2027.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.