Trump assassination suspect due in court
· Toronto Sun
The California man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Dinne r attended by U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon for an attempted assassination of the president.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
Administration officials said Cole Allen, 31, tried to kill Trump and senior officials at the dinner, the third attempt on the president’s life in two years. The president posted footage of the gunman running past a checkpoint near where the dinner was held. After a brief exchange of gunfire, the suspect was taken into custody.
In a CBS interview on Sunday evening, Trump was asked if he feared there would be casualties as Washington’s government and media elite ducked for cover at the dinner.
“I wasn’t worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” Trump said.
Allen was expected to be charged with assault on a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Additional charges are likely.
Allen — who was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives — was staying at the Washington Hilton hotel where the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was held.
Who is Cole Allen?
Allen sent a 1000-word manifesto to his family 10 minutes before the attack, the New York Post said. He allegedly signed it “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen” — outlining “rules of engagement for the shooting and stating he believed it was his “righteous duty” to attack administration officials.
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he allegedly wrote.
“(Well, to be completely honest, I was no longer willing a long time ago, but this is the first real opportunity I’ve had to do something about it.)”
Trump blasted the manifesto in the CBS interview when it was read to him, saying he has never been charged with any crime related to billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you’re horrible people,” Trump told O’Donnell after he was asked for his reaction.
“Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.”
O’Donnell didn’t back down and asked, “Do you think he was referring to you?”
Trump replied: “I’m not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all … stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated.”