Email released in affidavit points to suspect’s targets, motives
The U.S. Department of Justice released an affidavit from a law enforcement official late Monday about the charges against Cole Tomas Allen.
The complainant, whose name has been redacted, said Allen had scheduled an email that went out to family members and a former employer about the shooting incident at 8:40 p.m. on Saturday — the same time U.S. officials said Allen had approached a security checkpoint at the hotel.
According to the affidavit, the email reads, “I wish I could have said anything earlier, but doing so would have made none of this possible. My sincerest apologies for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
Allen attached an apology to his parents, colleagues, and students for lying, and to anyone he “put in danger simply by being near,” including luggage handlers and other passengers he travelled next to, according to a transcript in the affidavit.
He “did this” because he is a U.S. citizen, and his representatives are a reflection of him. Allen named “crimes” he no longer wanted on his hands, according to the filing.
The attachment also said administration officials “not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel” were “targets,” and would be prioritized from highest- to lowest-ranking.
It said Secret Service agents were only targets if necessary, and would if possible be incapacitated non-lethally. Hotel security, Capitol police, and the National Guard were not targets unless they shot at him.
