The man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump pleaded not guilty, and conspiracy theories surrounding the attack are gaining traction.

WASHINGTON. – The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during the traditional White House Correspondents' Association Dinner pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday. This case has reignited the climate of polarization and conspiracy theories that grips the country. Cole Allen, 31, appeared in court in Washington, handcuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit. He did not speak during the hearing; his lawyer formally entered the plea of not guilty on his behalf. Allen faces charges of attempted murder of the president, assault on a federal agent, and firearms-related offenses. According to the prosecution, the accused traveled by train to Washington with a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives. He reserved a room at the Washington Hilton hotel – the venue for the gala on April 25 – and then allegedly fired at a Secret Service agent before attempting to breach a security checkpoint in an apparent attempt to attack Trump and other high-ranking government officials. Guests at the White House Correspondents' Dinner described the attack. Allen faces a potential sentence of life in prison if convicted of attempting to kill Trump. The hearing on Monday also foreshadowed the next major legal battle in the case. The defense will seek to disqualify the acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, and the U.S. Attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, because both attended the dinner and could have been potential targets of the attack. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm argued that he might even seek to disqualify the entire U.S. Attorney's Office for Washington due to Pirro's close political and personal relationship with Trump. "It is entirely inappropriate for the victims of a supposed event like this to be the ones prosecuting the case," Ohm told the court. The prosecutors must respond by May 22. Pirro, a former Fox News host and close associate of the president, dismissed the criticism and told CNN that her presence at the gala "does not affect at all" her ability to prosecute the case. This sketch of the courtroom shows Cole Tomas Allen, the man from California arrested in the shooting incident at the correspondents' dinner in Washington, appearing before Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh in federal court. (Dana Verkouteren - FR31454 AP) Last week, another federal judge even apologized to Allen for the treatment he received at the local Washington jail, where he was held under suicide prevention measures and in isolation. However, as the judicial investigation progresses, the episode has opened another unexpected front: the realm of conspiracy theories. According to a poll published this Monday by the NewsGuard firm and cited by The Washington Post, nearly one in four Americans believes that the attack during the correspondents' dinner was staged or faked. The poll, conducted by YouGov between April 28 and May 4 on a sample of 1,000 adults, revealed that 24% believe the incident was "staged," compared to 45% who believe the attack was real. Another 32% said they were unsure. Agents draw their weapons after loud gunshots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel. (MANDEL NGAN - AFP) The political divide is evident in the results. Approximately one-third of Democratic voters said they believe the attack was orchestrated, compared to only one in eight Republicans. In addition, young people aged 18 to 29 were more likely than older people to distrust the official version. Conspiracy theories began circulating shortly after the thwarted attack at the Washington Hilton. On social media, posts proliferated claiming, without evidence, that the Trump administration had organized the episode to strengthen support for the president, the Republican Party, and the project of building a grand ballroom at the White House. President Trump had to be evacuated on Saturday night from the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Presidential spokesman Davis Ingle dismissed those versions in statements to The Washington Post: "Anyone who thinks that President Trump staged his own assassination attempts is a complete idiot." For Sofia Rubinson, editor of NewsGuard, the results reflect a growing distrust of both the government and traditional media. (Agencias AP, Reuters y The Washington Post) United States Donald Trump [Continue reading]