White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting Suspect Seeks to Disqualify Prosecutors

Lawyers for Cole Allen filed a motion late Thursday asking a judge to disqualify Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro from any direct role in prosecuting him. Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, faces charges including attempting to assassinate President Trump, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and firearms counts.

The motion argues that because Blanche and Pirro attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner where the shooting occurred, they qualify as potential victims and witnesses, creating a conflict. Allen allegedly ran through a security checkpoint one floor above the April 25 event at the Washington Hilton hotel and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer.

The officer was struck but saved by a bulletproof vest and returned fire without hitting Allen. The incident forced an evacuation of the ballroom where President Trump, his wife Melania, cabinet members and other officials including Blanche and Pirro were gathered.

Both prosecutors heard gunshots and were quickly evacuated, according to the defense filing. " Prosecutors have accused Allen of targeting high-ranking government officials, a description that could include the two prosecutors. " The defense motion notes that Pirro is a longtime friend of President Trump, whom prosecutors say was Allen's intended target.

" It cites internal Justice Department rules on recusal for conflicts of interest or personal relationships. Even if no actual conflict exists, the lawyers contend, the appearance of one requires disqualification and possibly the appointment of a special prosecutor.

Pirro issued a statement Friday saying her office would respond to the motion in court. "We will not tolerate people who come to the District of Columbia to engage in antidemocratic acts of political violence; and we will prosecute all such acts to the fullest extent of the law," she said.