Federal prosecutors have revealed a meticulous timeline and an extensive cache of weapons linked to an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, according to court documents cited by CNN and reported by outlets including El Colombiano. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California, faces federal charges including attempted assassination following the thwarted attack in Washington, D.C.
Detailed Timeline of the Premeditated Plot
According to court filings submitted by federal prosecutors, Allen began planning the attack weeks before the gathering. On April 6, shortly after public confirmation that President Trump would attend the correspondents’ dinner, Allen searched for event logistics and booked a room at the host hotel. Prosecutors state that Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago on April 21, continuing onward to the nation’s capital two days later.
Upon arriving in Washington on April 24, Allen took the metro to the Dupont Circle area and checked into the hotel at approximately 3:15 p.m. On the evening of the event, surveillance and phone data show the suspect repeatedly consulting the presidential itinerary. At 8:03 p.m., Allen took a mirror selfie wearing gear and weapons strapped to his body, according to the court record. He left his hotel room at roughly 8:15 p.m. and monitored live streams of the president’s arrival outside the venue at 8:27 p.m.
Weapons Cache and Pre-Attack Communications
Investigators described the gear recovered from the suspect as a “true arsenal.” Court documents detail that Allen was carrying a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38-caliber handgun, multiple knives and daggers, and a significant quantity of ammunition. Federal prosecutors argued in court filings that the attack constituted an act of “extreme political violence” that could have yielded devastating results, noting that a major tragedy was averted largely due to fortunate circumstances.
As part of his preparation, Allen had pre-programmed an email detailing his intentions to be sent to family members, friends, and a former employer at approximately 8:30 p.m., coinciding with the planned timing of the assault. Minutes after tracking the president’s arrival via his phone, Allen moved toward a security checkpoint situated one level above the main ballroom, shedding a long coat that concealed his shotgun before breaking into a run.
Legal Proceedings and Public Safety Arguments
Federal prosecutors have strongly opposed any pretrial release for Allen, arguing in judicial presentations that no combination of conditions could adequately guarantee public safety if the defendant is released. Allen has not yet entered a formal plea in the federal court proceedings.
