WHCA dinner suspect slapped with new terrorism charge

A federal grand jury added a new terrorism charge against Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner earlier this year.Allen, a 31-year-old California resident, was indicted in May on four charges, including attempting to kill the president at the April 25 gala, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and use of a firearm in a crime of violence.New court filings released Thursday showed the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia added an additional charge of terrorism by using a local terrorism law. The same law was used against Floyd Fee Corkins, who opened fire on the Family Research Council in 2012. “Allen, while armed with a dangerous weapon … attempted to commit first-degree murder by killing the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, with the intent to influence the policy and conduct of a unit of government … by intimidation and coercion, and with the intent to intimidate and coerce a significant portion of the civilian population of the United States and the District of Columbia,” the court filing reads.Trump was among multiple high-profile Cabinet officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who attended the WHCA’s annual dinner on April 25.They were forced to evacuate when a gunman rammed the event’s security checkpoint, appeared to shoot a Secret Service agent, and began running toward the room where the gala attendees were gathered.Allen was immediately arrested in connection with the incident. His trial is set to begin Sept. 7, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee. He has pleaded not guilty.PIRRO SAYS TRUMP DINNER SHOOTING SUSPECT ‘DEFINITIVELY’ SHOT SECRET SERVICE AGENTThe suspect’s alleged manifesto, signed by “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen,” indicated Trump was his top target, alongside other administration officials.“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” the document read. “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.”