Assassination Attempt Suspect Charged
4/28/202625 min
What we know about the man in custody after the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner, and how the incident unfolded.
The man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with multiple weapons was charged on Monday with trying to assassinate President Trump.
Devlin Barrett, who covers the Justice Department, explains what we know about the suspect, his plan to target the president and whether the incident should be seen as a security failure or success.
Guest: Devlin Barrett, a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and the F.B.I.
Background reading:
- ‘Shots Fired!’: Inside the pandemonium at the Washington Hilton.
- Charges against the assassination attempt suspect were based on a shotgun shell and a screed.
- Experts said the security at the White House correspondents’ dinner worked as intended.
Photo: Salwan Georges for The New York Times
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMerrick Garland· Soundbite0:00
She knows.
Rachel Abrams· Host0:00
How? Did you blab?
Merrick Garland· Soundbite0:02
No.
Speaker 20:02
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the movie event 20 years in the making.
Rachel Abrams· Host0:06
I honestly can't with the secrets anymore, so I think we should, we should tell her.
Merrick Garland· Soundbite0:10
Will you two please spit it out already?
Rachel Abrams· Host0:12
Um, the, the- On May 1st, be the first to experience it only in theaters. In light of the recent scandal, I'm here to restore your credibility.
Merrick Garland· Soundbite0:20
Oh, 'cause we're a team now? That's a nice story.
Speaker 20:23
The Devil Wears Prada 2, rated PG-13. May be inappropriate for children under 13. Only in theaters May 1st.
Merrick Garland· Soundbite0:29
Good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for being here. On Saturday night, as you all know, an act of violence occurred at a gathering that symbolizes something fundamental to our system of government.
Speaker 30:46
From The New York Times, I'm Rachel Abrams, and this is The Daily.
Merrick Garland· Soundbite0:51
Today, the Department of Justice filed three federal charges in United States District Court against Cole Thomas Allen. The first count is attempted- On Monday, the man accused of storming the White House Correspondence Dinner with multiple weapons was charged in federal court in Washington, DC. Violence has no place in civic life. It cannot and will not be used to disrupt democratic institutions or intimidate those who serve them, and it certainly cannot continue to be used against the President of the United States.
Speaker 31:26
Today, Devlin Barrett explains what we're learning about