“We believe, based on an initial assessment of the situation, that the suspect was aiming to target members of the administration,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said, noting that officials are still working to establish the motive and whether the individual acted alone. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Sunday that investigators suspect the person involved in the attempted attack near the White House intended to target administration officials, as federal agencies continue reviewing evidence collected overnight, according to IANS.
“This investigation is only about 12 hours old, so we are still carefully reviewing all aspects of what took place. So far, we have gathered a significant amount of evidence that is currently being examined,” Blanche said during an interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He also said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with local law enforcement and the United States Secret Service, carried out several search warrants, including at a home in California and a hotel room in Washington where the suspect had been staying. Blanche repeated that, based on early findings, the individual appeared to be targeting members of the administration, while authorities continue to investigate the motive and whether others were involved.
Officials said the suspect has not been cooperating and is expected to be formally charged in federal court in Washington as early as Monday morning. Blanche added that more charges could be filed as investigators evaluate the suspect’s motive, intent, and level of planning.
According to Blanche, the suspect approached a security checkpoint carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, but was quickly detained just moments before breaching the secured area.
He praised the Secret Service, saying their actions demonstrated effective security work. “He was stopped before getting anywhere near the President, which shows the excellent job done by the Secret Service,” Blanche said.
Authorities believe the suspect traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then onward to Washington. Blanche noted that officials are still investigating how the weapons were transported across state lines and brought into the capital.
“We still don’t have all the details at this point,” he said. “We are continuing to examine how he obtained the firearms and whether they were legally acquired.”
Blanche also responded to suggestions that the incident should prompt immediate changes to gun or transportation laws, saying the focus should remain on law enforcement efforts rather than new restrictions. He emphasized that the situation reflects a failed attack due to effective policing.
The attempted incident took place during a major event attended by senior US leaders, including President Donald Trump, the Vice President, and Cabinet members—the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Blanche said the administration does not plan to reduce public appearances in response. “We will continue with events like this. If his intention was to create fear, he did not succeed,” he said.
One Secret Service agent was injured during the incident but is reported to be in good condition. Blanche credited protective equipment for preventing more serious injuries.
The US Secret Service, responsible for protecting the Prehttps://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-trump-administration-officials-were-on-target-says-acting-us-attorney-general-23627664sident and other top officials, worked closely with federal and local agencies to secure the event and respond swiftly to the threat.