A recent court filing by the U.S. government has cast doubt on the initial claims that a Secret Service officer was shot by a gunman attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The accused individual, Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly fired a shotgun towards the ballroom stairs where Trump and other officials were present. The motion states that an officer discharged five rounds, but there is no mention of the officer being shot. A spent cartridge was discovered in Allen’s shotgun.
The document does not accuse Allen of targeting or hitting the Secret Service officer who was reportedly shot but protected by body armor. This development contradicts statements made by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro. The question of who fired the shot that hit the officer remains unanswered.
Despite earlier claims that Allen would be charged with assault on a federal officer, this charge has not been filed yet. However, Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president. The government’s account of the incident is under scrutiny, especially after a Washington Post investigation revealed security footage showing no evidence of Allen firing his weapon.
Additionally, a photo taken by Allen in his hotel room before the attack was included in the filing. The image shows Allen dressed in all black with various weapons and tools. Another document filed in court mentioned a Secret Service officer being shot but did not identify the shooter. Officer V.G. reportedly fired multiple shots at Allen, who fell to the ground but was not injured.
In a manifesto written by Allen prior to the attack, he mentioned using buckshot instead of slugs to minimize casualties. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and who fired the shots during the incident.