White House press dinner shooting suspect pleads not guilty

 A 31-year-old man who was charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at the annual White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner has pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Cole A. appeared before Judge Trevor McFadden in a federal district court in Washington D.C. The man has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.

He faces up to life in prison if found guilty.

Prosecutors say Cole A. fired a shotgun at ​a US Secret Service agent and stormed a security checkpoint at the dinner with the intention of attacking on ‌Trump and other members of his administration.

The man allegedly traveled by train from his home in California to Washington D.C. and booked a room at the Washington Hilton, where the event was to take place. Officials found a shotgun, pistol and knives in his possession.

The incident is the third alleged assassination attempt against Trump in less than two years.

Lawyers seek Trump administration recusals

Cole A. was never able to get close enough to Trump or any other guests of the dinner, which took place in a different floor from where the altercation at the security checkpoint took place. 

The president, Vice President JD Vance and other government officials were, however, close enough to hear shots ringing out and were rushed out of the venue by security officers.

Among the attendees at the gala were acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

Cole A.'s lawyers have signaled they will seek both Blanche and Pirro to recuse themselves from the case, due to their status as victims and their friendship with Trump.

"It is wholly inappropriate for victims of an alleged ⁠event like this to be individually ​prosecuting the case," the defendant's lawyer Eugene Ohm said.

District Judge Trevor McFadden gave prosecutors until May 22 to respond in writing to the defense's request for Pirro and Blanche to recuse themselves.

McFadden asked the government to specify whether it believes Pirro and Blanche could be considered victims in the case.

Edited by: Alex Berry