Investigators may be one step closer to uncovering a motive behind the shooting last month at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Suspect Cole Thomas Allen allegedly plotted the attack because of “multiple social and political grievances,” according to a preliminary intelligence note from the Department of Homeland Security.
“His recent social media posts criticized the US’ role in the Iran conflict, which may have contributed to his decision to conduct the attack,” according to the April 27 document, which was obtained through open records requests by the national security transparency nonprofit Property of the People and shared with The Independent.
“DHS shares Critical Incident Notes to quickly communicate information and intelligence to federal, state, and local authorities,” Homeland Security said in a statement to The Independent. “These reports notify our partners of the latest available information following significant incidents that have impacts to homeland security. DHS does not publicly comment on the information contained in internal law enforcement communications.”
Federal officials have also alleged that wider anti-Trump anger fueled the attack.
In court documents charging Allen with attempted assassination, officials cited an alleged anti-Trump document Allen sent to his family in the moments before the attack.
The document claims administration officials are “targets” and states, “I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
Allen allegedly signed the email by referring to himself as a “federal assassin.”
On Tuesday, Allen was hit with a new charge related to the April attack, alleging he shot a federal officer.
Officials say security footage shows Allen running through a checkpoint outside the Correspondents’ Dinner and that a Secret Service agent was shot in the chest during the encounter.
The agent was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not seriously injured.
Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California, has not entered a plea.
His attorneys have alleged he was unnecessarily placed under highly restrictive suicide watch conditions upon being arrested.
The president has vowed to move forward with another Correspondents’ Dinner in a matter of weeks.
In the wake of the April shooting, supporters and critics of the president alike have made unfounded claims that the attack was staged, though there is no evidence suggesting this is the case.
