{"id":2617253,"date":"2026-06-22T11:43:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-rejects-alleged-whca-dinner-shooters-bid-to-recuse-blanche-and-pirro\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:43:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:43:57","slug":"judge-rejects-alleged-whca-dinner-shooters-bid-to-recuse-blanche-and-pirro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-rejects-alleged-whca-dinner-shooters-bid-to-recuse-blanche-and-pirro\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge rejects alleged WHCA dinner shooter\u2019s bid to recuse Blanche and Pirro"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-rejects-alleged-whca-dinner-shooters-bid-to-recuse-blanche-and-pirro%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2617253&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal judge dismissed Cole Tomas Allen&#8217;s attempt to disqualify acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro from his criminal case, ruling that their attendance at the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner and Pirro\u2019s friendship with President Trump did not constitute conflicts of interest. Allen is accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump during a shooting at the dinner,which resulted in a Secret Service agent being wounded. prosecutors stated that only Trump and the injured officer were directly harmed, and the judge emphasized that the presence of Blanche and Pirro at the event did not make them victims. The case remains in pretrial stages, with Allen pleading not guilty and awaiting trial. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >decision highlights ongoing security concerns<\/a> following recent threats against Trump and his officials.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal judge on Monday rejected an effort by alleged White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner shooter <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4560441\/cole-allen-doj-lawyers-recuse-themselves-whca-dinner-shooting-ties\/\">Cole Tomas Allen<\/a> to disqualify acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> and U.S. Attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanine-pirro\/\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a> from his criminal case, finding no conflict of interest with their continuation on the prosecution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden denied Allen\u2019s motion, concluding that Blanche and Pirro\u2019s attendance at the April 26 event and Pirro\u2019s friendship with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> did not warrant recusal.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4616753\/district-judges-trump-policies-slap-downs-appeals-courts\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>District court judges weighing Trump policies face repeated slap downs by appeals courts<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4618006\/pirro-serious-charges-vandalism-reflecting-pool-algae\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pirro floats \u2018serious charges\u2019 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pirro-floats-serious-charges-for-vandals-fostering-algal-blooms-in-reflecting-pool\/\" title=\"Pirro floats &#039;serious charges&#039; for vandals fostering algal blooms in Reflecting Pool\">vandals fostering algal blooms<\/a> in Reflecting Pool<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4616938\/doj-not-sign-declaration-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ won\u2019t sign declaration over canceled anti-weaponization fund: \u2018Demands are unnecessary\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, speak during a news conference at the Department of Justice, on Monday April 27, 2026, in Washington, following the initial appearance in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal Court Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal court<\/a> of the suspected White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner gunman, Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. (AP Photo\/Manuel Balce Ceneta)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26117720629170.webp?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, speak during a news conference at the Department of Justice, on Monday April 27, 2026, in Washington, following the initial appearance in federal court of the suspected White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner gunman, Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. (AP Photo\/Manuel Balce Ceneta)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNeither Blanche nor Pirro is a victim of Allen\u2019s alleged crimes,\u201d McFadden <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292089\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292089.33.0_1.pdf\">wrote<\/a> in an 18-page decision. \u201cAllen stands accused of attempting to assassinate the President, assaulting a United States officer with a deadly weapon, and committing two firearm offenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prosecutors say Allen, 31, attempted to assassinate Trump after allegedly sprinting through a Secret Service security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton armed with a shotgun while the annual White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner was underway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal indictment alleges Allen intended to target Trump and other administration officials before he was stopped by law enforcement. As a result of this alleged attempt, a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/secret-service\/\">Secret Service<\/a> officer was wounded during the incident and was briefly sent to the hospital before being discharged in late April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defense attorneys argued Blanche and Pirro should be removed because both attended the dinner and could be considered witnesses or possible victims. They also cited Pirro\u2019s friendship with Trump and public comments both officials made following the shooting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McFadden, an appointee of Trump, rejected those arguments, finding that \u201cthe only people directly and proximately harmed\u201d by the alleged offenses were Trump and the injured Secret Service officer. The judge wrote that the fact that Blanche and Pirro were present at the hotel and theoretically could have been harmed \u201cdoes not make them \u2018victims\u2019 of the charged crimes in a legal sense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNeither Blanche nor Pirro is a victim of Allen\u2019s alleged crimes,\u201d McFadden <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292089\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292089.33.0_1.pdf\">wrote<\/a> in an 18-page decision. \u201cAllen stands accused of attempting to assassinate the President, assaulting a United States officer with a deadly weapon, and committing two firearm offenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruling comes weeks after another armed suspect was fatally shot by Secret Service agents after allegedly opening fire near a White House security checkpoint, underscoring heightened security concerns surrounding Trump and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-big-here-we-go-pentagon-halts-biden-transition-defense-briefings-biden-team-unaware-of-directive\/\" title=\"BREAKING BIG: Here We Go \u2014 Pentagon Halts Biden Transition Defense Briefings \u2014 Biden Team Unaware of Directive\">senior administration officials<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McFadden also dismissed claims that Pirro\u2019s friendship with Trump required her recusal, noting that presidents routinely appoint friends and political allies to senior <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> positions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4560441\/cole-allen-doj-lawyers-recuse-themselves-whca-dinner-shooting-ties\/\">COLE ALLEN REQUESTS DOJ LAWYERS RECUSE THEMSELVES DUE TO WHCD SHOOTING TIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Allen has yet to be scheduled for a trial but has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the case.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government and the defendant are still in the midst of working out pretrial discovery matters, and prosecutors have said there will be \u201cthousands of pages and gigabytes of data\u201d produced to the defendant in discovery, given that the scope of his alleged crime stemmed all the way from his home state of California to Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge rejects Allen\u2019s bid to disqualify officials in shooting case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2617254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26117728011518.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[25914,50433,12603,3782,78650],"class_list":["post-2617253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-blanche","tag-judge-2","tag-pirro","tag-recuse","tag-whca-dinner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26117728011518.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617253"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2617257,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617253\/revisions\/2617257"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}