Gunman’s Manifesto Released After Washington Dinner Attack, Targeting Trump and Government Officials

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[Financial News] A manifesto written before the attack by the gunman who stormed the White House Correspondents' Association dinner has been made public. He did not mention President Donald Trump directly, but he revealed an intent to attack the president and government officials.
The New York Post reported on the 26th local time that it had obtained the manifesto written by Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who was arrested at the dinner the previous day. The paper said Allen sent the document to his family 10 minutes before the attack, and that his brother, who lives in the State of Connecticut, reported it to local police. The manifesto was signed, "Cole 'Cold Force' 'Kind Federal Assassin' Allen."
In the manifesto, Allen wrote, "I am an American citizen, and the actions of my representatives reflect me," adding, "I will no longer allow pedophiles, rapists, and traitors to dirty my hands with their crimes." He continued, "To be honest, I have held this position for a long time, but this is the first real chance I have had to do something about it."
The New York Post said the remarks effectively showed that Allen had targeted Trump for assassination. Allen said, "I apologize to everyone who was abused or killed before this happened, to everyone who suffered before I made this attempt, and to everyone who may suffer afterward, regardless of whether I succeed." He added that he did not expect forgiveness for his actions and said, "If I could have found another way to get this close, I would have taken it."
The White House Correspondents' Association held its annual dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., on the 25th. That day, Allen was caught trying to pass through security with a shotgun, a handgun, and a knife, and then fired at a security officer. Trump was evacuated immediately after the shooting, and the event was halted. There were no casualties.
In the manifesto, Allen wrote about his targets, "Government officials, except for Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): They are the targets. Priority goes to the top officials first." He described United States Secret Service (USSS) agents as targets only if necessary, saying he would try to neutralize them without killing anyone if possible and hoped they would be wearing body armor.
Allen said hotel security guards, police, and the National Guard would not be targets unless they fired first, and that hotel staff and other guests were not targets. He also claimed he would use low-penetration shotgun shells to minimize casualties.
Allen wrote, "If absolutely necessary, I would push through almost anyone to reach the target, but I hope it does not come to that." He added, "Most of the people at the event voluntarily chose to attend speeches by pedophiles, rapists, and traitors, so they count as accomplices."
Allen also claimed in the statement that he was a Christian. He noted that some might argue his actions conflicted with the Christian teaching to "turn the other cheek" if someone strikes you on the right cheek, but he stressed, "Turning the other cheek is what you do when you are oppressed." He continued, "I am not a fisherman executed without trial, a student killed in a bombing, a starving child, or a teenage girl abused by countless criminals in this government," and argued, "Offering the other cheek when someone else is being oppressed is not Christian behavior. It is aiding and abetting the crimes of the oppressor."
Allen justified the attack by asking, "You may say now is not the right time, but when you see someone being raped, killed, and abused, should we just walk away because it is 'uncomfortable' for someone other than the victim?"
He also claimed that security at the Washington Hilton Hotel was inadequate, saying, "If I had been an Iranian agent instead of an American citizen, I could have walked in here with an M2 machine gun and no one would have noticed. It is truly absurd."
In response, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an NBC interview on the 26th that the motive behind Allen's attack was "still under investigation." Blanche said early review findings showed Allen had "actually targeted people working in the government, perhaps including the president." Allen was said to have stayed at the Washington Hilton Hotel the day before the incident.
Meanwhile, Trump told Fox News in a phone interview on the 26th that Allen's manifesto made it "clear as day that he hates Christians." Trump emphasized that Allen "had deep hatred in his heart for a long time. It was a religious issue. It was strongly anti-Christian."
 
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pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter