'There will be additional charges': U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on WHCD shooter

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter Cole Allen would be hit with additional charges. On Monday, Allen was charged with three counts: attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce for use in a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. In a press briefing, Pirro said that they were "only three charges" in the complaint presented to the federal district court.

"There will be additional charges as this investigation continues to unfold," she said. Pirro said that the defendant made it clear that he intended to "bring down as many of the high-ranking Cabinet officials as he could." "This is the kind of situation that we cannot tolerate,” Pirro added. Pirro also delivered a stern warning to those "attempting to commit political violence."

She said that those willing to commit political violence "with a firearm and cross state lines," would be tracked down and prosecuted. "We will find you. We will track your steps from the inception of your plan, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," Pirro said. "This is anti-democratic at its core." Later on in the briefing, Pirro revealed details of the shooter's movements before his attack.

On April 6, Allen booked a reservation at the Hilton for April 24 to April 26. He then travelled from the West Coast via train on April 21 and arrived in Chicago on April 23. The next day, he arrived in the nation's capital and checked into the Hilton at 3 p.m. Pirro then revealed that on April 25, he was aware of the President being in the ballroom for the event at 8 p.m.

Forty minutes later, he tried to rush into the ballroom, but his attempt was foiled by security personnel. "Thank goodness law enforcement and the Secret Service were able to prevent him from getting into that ballroom. He was not injured," Pirro said. In the aftermath of the incident, Republicans have called for the White House ballroom to be cleared by the court.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche relayed those sentiments to the public yet again, as he said that there was "no better example" to show why the ballroom was necessary. "Aside from the fact that the ballroom was spectacular, it's going to be beautiful. It's going to make this country look great every time it's used. It's also a meaningful safety issue," he said as he vowed to keep fighting in court to get it approved.

The White House ballroom project has landed in legal trouble with The National Trust for Historic Preservation refusing to drop its lawsuit to stop construction of the ballroom despite a request from the Justice Department. As per an NBC report, the Justice Department argued that the "lawsuit puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk."