Overview
- Allen’s lawyers filed a motion Thursday seeking to remove U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche from the case, saying their attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner makes them potential witnesses or victims.
- Defense attorneys cite Pirro’s public comments and social posts about being at the scene, her long friendship with President Trump, and Blanche’s past work as Trump’s personal attorney as factors that create at least an appearance of partiality.
- The filing asks U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden to bar the officials from direct involvement and suggests a special prosecutor could be warranted, while prosecutors plan to respond in court before the judge rules.
- A federal grand jury indicted Allen on Tuesday on charges including attempting to assassinate President Trump, assaulting a federal officer, and two firearms counts, with an arraignment set for Monday, May 11.
- Prosecutors say Allen fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer at the Washington Hilton and that a buckshot pellet lodged in the officer’s vest caused minor injuries, and Allen faces a potential life sentence if convicted on the top charge.