Texas Republican introduces bill to give WHCA shooter death penalty for attempt on Trump’s life

EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) introduced legislation on Friday to make Cole Tomas Allen, the alleged shooter who targeted President Donald Trump at last month’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, eligible for the death penalty.

The Protect the Presidency Act would increase the possible punishment for failed assassination attempts on a president to match that, as if the attempt were fatal. If the measure were currently law, federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty in Allen’s case.

“A failed assassin is still an assassin and should be treated as such under the law,” Gooden told the Washington Examiner. “The harshest punishments should be on the table for those who try to murder the President.”

According to the current U.S. criminal code, “attempting to kill or kidnap the president is punishable” by up to life in prison. Gooden’s bill would amend the criminal code to make the death penalty also an