WASHINGTON, United States: A California man charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a White House press gala last month pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Cole Allen, 31, entered the not guilty plea during an appearance before Judge Trevor McFadden in a federal district court in the nation´s capital. McFadden scheduled a status conference on the case to be held on June 29.
Allen faces four charges in connection with the April 25 attack at the White House Correspondents´ Association (WHCA) dinner at a downtown Washington hotel and potentially faces life in prison if convicted. He is charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.
Allen´s attorneys are seeking to have acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, removed from the case because they were guests at the WHCA dinner.
According to prosecutors, Allen, a highly-educated teacher and engineer, traveled from his home in California to Washington by train carrying an arsenal that included a shotgun, a handgun and numerous knives.
