x01 Archives

J.B. Pritzker’s contemptible reaction to the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner was about as bad as one can imagine, but things devolved into a complete and hilarious self-own when Pritzker’s “Trump started it” rationale was lost in the blur of his own memory.

Federal investigators say the suspect accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Dinner wrote angrily about Trump administration officials before the attack, according to multiple reports released after the chaotic shooting at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. Prosecutors allege Allen traveled across several states before arriving in Washington and brought multiple weapons to the annual gala attended by President Donald Trump, senior administration officials, lawmakers, and media figures.

According to law enforcement officials, Allen sent writings to family members shortly before the incident. Those writings reportedly did not mention Trump by name, but expressed fury toward officials tied to his administration and portrayed attendees as complicit in wrongdoing.

Investigators are reviewing the writings as a central piece of evidence in determining motive. Officials say Allen referred to himself in one message as a “friendly federal assassin,” language that has drawn national attention as prosecutors build their case.

CNN host Dana Bash questioned Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin on Sunday about whether Democrats should reconsider their language toward President Donald Trump following the assassination attempt that was stopped outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Bash raised the issue in the context of broader concerns about political violence and recent high-profile security incidents. “Do you think twice about that when something like this happens?” she asked. Raskin responded by asking for clarification on the premise. “What rhetoric do you have in mind?” he said. Bash pointed to the increasingly heated political language, including Democratic criticism of Trump as “terrible for this country.”

“I understand that that’s your democratic right, but overall, do you have a responsibility —” she said before Raskin interrupted, and pointed out Trump’s language toward the press, noting the president has referred to journalists as the “enemy of the people.”