WASHINGTON, D.C. — Security concerns are front and center after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Our Washington bureau correspondents were inside the ballroom when the chaos unfolded.
Initially, our correspondents accessed the Washington Hilton by flashing their dinner tickets to security outside. Once inside, hundreds — including cabinet officials and high-profile celebrities — were gathering at pre-dinner receptions and social gatherings — all without any type of security screening or metal detectors.
It wasn’t until the main event was starting, when everyone had to proceed through metal detectors to enter the main ballroom — where the dinner program was getting underway.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is a more than century-old annual tradition. For the last 57 years, the dinner has called the Washington Hilton home, and similar security precautions have been utilized during that span.
However, political violence and threats have escalated, and now some believe the standard operating procedure must change, too.
Saturday evening, the night was moving normally — speeches, laughter, a packed ballroom of more than 2,000 guests — including the president, vice president and cabinet members.
When all of a sudden, the sound of gunshots erupted.
Attendees hit the deck, hiding under tables and knocking over chairs as Secret Service agents moved in to lock down the room and evacuate high-profile leaders.
Seconds earlier, officials say 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen had breached the security screening area after rushing through it with multiple weapons. Shots were allegedly fired by Allen and a Secret Service agent was struck in their protective vest before Allen was apprehended. The agent is expected to make a full recovery.
The attack is raising new questions about security, especially for the White House Correspondents Association dinner and its historic venue.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve security,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a briefing Monday. “I definitely wouldn’t say changes are out of the question.”
“This is a difficult, a difficult venue,” said Michael Gould, a retired NYPD lieutenant and former Nassau County Police Department commanding officer.
Gould has been part of the security detail for past presidents, including George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. He said that hotels can present a greater security challenge than other event venues, like a stadium, especially when they’re open to guests in the days leading up to a major event, such as the correspondents dinner.
“There’s guests coming, checking in and out. Public has more access compared to, for example, a convention center or the United Nations or a stadium — where these events are always sanitized ahead of time- meaning police will come in days before — I used to sweep for explosives, other people would sweep for human beings,” said Gould.
Officials say Allen traveled by train from California to Washington, avoiding airport screening. A guest at the Washington Hilton, Allen was already inside the hotel with weapons Saturday evening, according to officials.
“In this case, the perimeter should have been set up sooner,” said Gould, adding that he was most taken back by the speed at which Allen allegedly rushed the perimeter.
“If you just think of a TSA line at the airport, and somebody wanted to sprint through airport security, they probably would be pretty successful getting maybe 100, 200 yards in, there’d probably would be a foot pursuit,” said Gould.
Gould said that even with sweeps and other precautionary measures, there’s never a 100% guarantee of protection for anyone. “Mike Tyson said: ‘everybody has a plan, until they’re punched in the face,’” Gould said.
“We’re always vulnerable,” said Gould. “I thought the Secret Service, everybody did a really good job.”
Administration officials and dinner attendees expressed deep gratitude for the quick reaction of the U.S. Secret Service and additional security personnel. The quick, coordinated response in a moment of chaos- and in an atrium present with attendees- prevented a much larger tragedy.
“The White House will continue to engage with DHS and with Secret Service to find ways to improve and strengthen security. But as far as Saturday night is concerned, the president was satisfied with the response. He’s very grateful to the men and women who provided the response for him and his wife and members of his team,” said Leavitt.
Administration officials are set to meet with federal agencies to review protocols, especially ahead of large-scale events tied to America’s 250th anniversary.
