Withdrawing his request for pretrial release…
Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, has dropped his bid for pretrial release and will remain in jail as his case moves forward.
The decision, made Thursday ahead of a scheduled detention hearing in Washington, D.C., means he will remain in custody pending trial.
As CNBC reports:
Allen’s waiver came a day after his defense team, in a court filing, sought his release on bond pending trial, and after prosecutors in their own filing laid out arguments for why he should remain in jail.
“He’s conceding detention at this time,” Allen’s lawyer, Tezira Abe, told Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington on Thursday.
Abe said Allen, who did not enter a plea at the hearing, was reserving his right to challenge his detention at a future date.
Abe told Upadhyaya that she and Allen’s other lawyer had difficulty meeting with the defendant over the past several days, but spoke to him on Thursday morning before the hearing.
Facing Serious Federal Charges
Allen, 31, is facing multiple federal charges, including:
- Attempted assassination of the president
- Transporting firearms across state lines to commit a felony
- Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence
If convicted on the top charge, he could face life in prison.
Alleged Plot Targeted Trump, Officials
Prosecutors say Allen traveled from California to Washington, D.C., armed with multiple weapons and a plan to attack the event.
Authorities allege he:
- Charged a Secret Service checkpoint with a firearm
- Fired shots, striking an agent’s ballistic vest
- Carried a manifesto outlining targets within the Trump administration
No attendees were killed, and the president and other officials were safely evacuated.
Prosecutors Argue He Should Remain Detained
Federal prosecutors have pushed to keep Allen in custody, citing:
- “Overwhelming evidence” of guilt
- The severity of the charges
- Concerns about public safety and flight risk
Investigators also say Allen appears to have acted alone and has not been cooperating with authorities.
Case Moves Toward Trial
With the release request withdrawn, Allen will now remain jailed as the case proceeds through federal court.
The prosecution is expected to rely heavily on:
- Surveillance footage
- Seized weapons
- Written materials allegedly outlining his intent
Bottom Line
By withdrawing his bid for release, Cole Allen will remain in custody as one of the most serious alleged political violence cases in recent years moves toward trial, with federal prosecutors seeking to hold him accountable.
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