Justice Department reveals details, photo in DC gala dinner shooting

The Justice Department revealed new details about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in a bid to keep the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump locked up.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, committed the "most serious" crimes in U.S. law, the Justice Department contended in an April 29 court filing. The suspect and lawyers for both sides are due in federal court on April 30 for a hearing on whether he will remain in custody.

The filing included a photo of Allen allegedly taken by himself shortly before the attack. An enhanced version of the image shows him wearing a sheathed knife, pliers, and wire cutters, consistent with items later recovered when law enforcement arrested him, according to the DOJ.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on the CBS News show "Face the Nation" on April 26 that investigators believed Allen shot a Secret Service agent, who was wearing a bulletproof vest. But the latest prosecution court filing doesn't make that claim.

Instead, it says a Secret Service officer saw and heard Allen fire a shotgun in the direction of the stairs leading down to the ballroom where the dinner was taking place. The officer drew his gun and fired five times at Allen, who fell to the ground and was restrained by law enforcement, according to the filing.

"The defendant suffered a minor injury to his knee but was not shot," prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also allege that Allen visited websites with live video and media coverage of the president and first lady Melania Trump arriving for the dinner just minutes before the attack.

Prosecutors: 'Motivation for violence remains'

Given those details, government lawyers essentially said, there are no bail conditions that would keep others safe if Allen were to go free in the lead-up to his trial.

"So long as the President and members of his Cabinet continue to appear publicly, which they undoubtedly will, the defendant’s motivation for violence remains," they wrote.

Allen has been charged not only with attempting to assassinate a president, but also with transporting a gun and ammunition to commit a felony and firing a gun during a violent crime. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose Washington, DC, staff is prosecuting the case, has vowed to bring additional charges as the investigation unfolds.

If Allen is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Allen was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 25. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and several Cabinet members were among those in attendance.

Allen attempted to storm the dinner on foot, carrying multiple guns and knives, and planned to kill top officials, starting with the highest-ranking, according to the criminal complaint. Prosecutors said he emailed family, friends, and a former employer about his plans minutes before the attack.

Defense lawyers claim rights violations in jail

In an April 29 court filing, defense lawyers said the jail holding Allen has violated his right to confidential legal visits by making him confer with them in a public area while he is tied down and caged.

"Mr. Allen was forced to sit inside of a locked cage in full, five-point restraints, and speak over a phone — of which there is only one — to be able to confer with counsel," Allen's legal team wrote. "Counsel were forced to sit in an open, lobby area with jail staff and other attorneys standing nearby who could overhear the entirety of counsel’s side of the conversation."

The lawyers said the conditions were imposed on April 28 as they attempted to meet with Allen ahead of the April 30 hearing over whether he will have to stay behind bars pending his trial. They argued Allen has a constitutional right to privately consult with his legal team.

Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh responded to the defense filing on April 29, ordering the D.C. Department of Correction to "permit Mr. Allen and his defense team to have contact, unrestricted legal visits during the pendency of his case."

Defense lawyer says Allen has no criminal record

Tezira Abe, one of two lawyers appointed to represent Allen, has previewed what the defense may argue as it seeks conditions that will free Allen from jail. Abe told a judge at an April 27 proceeding that Allen has no prior arrests or convictions and is presumed innocent under the law.

Government lawyers agreed in their latest filing that Allen has a clean criminal record but said he's a danger to the public.

"Although the defendant apparently has not had prior contact with the criminal justice system, his personal history and circumstances demonstrate that conditions less restrictive than detention will not reasonably assure the community’s safety while this case proceeds," the lawyers said.