Top DOJ officials can remain part of prosecution of press gala attack, judge rules

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden has ruled that top Justice Department officials Todd Blanche and Jeanine Pirro can remain involved in the prosecution of Cole Tomas Allen, rejecting a defense attempt to remove them over alleged conflicts of interest.

The decision keeps Blanche, the acting attorney general, and Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington, on a politically sensitive federal case tied to the April 25 attack near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton.

McFadden said Allen had not been charged with trying to harm Blanche or Pirro, that there was no evidence he knew they would attend the dinner, and that neither official fit the legal definition of a victim in the case.

Why the defense sought recusal

Allen's lawyers argued Blanche and Pirro should be disqualified because they attended the event and could be viewed as witnesses or victims. They also pointed to Pirro's personal relationship with President Donald Trump.

McFadden rejected that argument, writing that the officials' attendance and Pirro's ties to Trump did not justify removing them from supervision of the case.

AP reported that Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination and assaulting a federal officer. He is accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint while armed with guns and knives and of firing a shotgun at a Secret Service agent during the incident.

Background on the attack case

The case stems from a shooting on April 25, 2026, that disrupted the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and led to evacuations at the Washington Hilton.

Prosecutors have portrayed the case as an act of political violence. Pirro said in a statement quoted by AP that her office would prosecute political violence to the fullest extent of the law.

The Washington Post reported on May 3 that Pirro said ballistic evidence showed a pellet from Allen's shotgun was found intertwined with fibers from the Secret Service officer's vest.

Allen faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted of attempted assassination alone.

What happens next

The criminal case continues in federal court with Blanche and Pirro still involved in the prosecution.

Defense lawyers could seek reconsideration or pursue another challenge to the ruling, but for now the judge's decision allows the Justice Department officials to stay on the case as pretrial work continues.