Defense Moves to Disqualify Officials from Prosecution of Man Charged in Trump Assassination Attempt

S. C. Jeanine Pirro and other senior Justice Department leaders from the case. The motion argues that Pirro and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche should be removed because they are purported victims and witnesses.

Allen, 31, has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and two gun counts. He has not yet entered a plea. Prosecutors have accused Allen of sprinting through a security checkpoint one floor above the correspondents' dinner while armed with a handgun, a shotgun and several knives.

Authorities say he fired his shotgun at an officer who was hit in his protective vest. The officer fired back five times but did not hit Allen, after which Allen was taken into custody. Allen allegedly sent an email to family members on the night of the dinner claiming he planned to target Trump administration officials aside from Patel, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.

A range of administration figures were present at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, including President Trump, much of his Cabinet and other high-level federal officials. The motion was filed two days after FBI Director Kash Patel appeared at a press conference alongside acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Jeanine Pirro. Patel said "This one hits a little differently.

Allen's lawyers argued that Jeanine Pirro and Todd Blanche should be disqualified because they are purported victims and witnesses in the case. Federal prosecutors have accused Allen of trying to kill high-ranking government officials, a term that could refer to Blanche and Pirro. Jeanine Pirro is a longtime friend of President Trump.

The filing noted that she referenced her status as a potential victim in media appearances discussing her experience in the ballroom. " The filing cited internal Justice Department rules that direct employees to recuse themselves from any criminal investigations where they may have a conflict of interest or a personal relationship with people involved in a case.

" CBS News has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.