White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting Suspect Moves 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.

The defense filing also references public comments made by Pirro after a Monday court hearing on Allen's jail conditions. A magistrate judge had apologized to Allen for placing him on 24-hour suicide watch despite defense claims he posed no risk to himself.

" Allen was indicted Tuesday and remains scheduled for arraignment on Monday. He has not yet entered a plea. The motion quotes FBI Director Kash Patel, who appeared at a press conference days after the shooting alongside Blanche and Pirro, saying "This one hits a little differently.

An email sent to family members that night outlined plans to target Trump administration officials ranked from highest to lowest, according to prosecutors. A range of administration figures were present at the annual dinner. Law enforcement investigated a residence in Torrance linked to Allen following the shooting.

He faces additional charges in the indictment returned by a grand jury in Washington. The defense team, consisting of assistant federal public defenders, urged the judge assigned to the case to bar Blanche, Pirro and possibly other Justice Department officials from involvement in the investigation or prosecution.

" — Defense attorneys Eugene Ohm and Tezira Abe, May 8, 2026 (The Guardian) The Justice Department has not yet filed its formal response to the disqualification request.