US defendant seeks to bar Justice Department officials from prosecution role in Washington Hilton case

Lawyers for Cole Tomas Allen have asked a federal judge to disqualify top Justice Department officials from direct involvement in his prosecution over the Washington Hilton shooting case.

The filing argues that acting attorney general Todd Blanche, US attorney Jeanine Pirro and possibly other officials may be victims or witnesses because they attended the event where Allen is alleged to have opened fire.

According to the court filing, Blanche and Pirro were at the 25 April White House Correspondents' Association dinner event at the Washington Hilton when Allen allegedly ran through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer.

The defence says that creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Allen's lawyers urged US district judge Trevor McFadden to remove Pirro, Blanche and possibly other Justice Department officials from direct involvement in the investigation and prosecution.

They also suggested that appointing a special prosecutor may be warranted.

The request adds a new procedural dispute to a high-profile federal case that is already moving toward trial.

Allen is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday on further charges in an indictment returned on Tuesday by a grand jury in Washington.

The filing says both Blanche and Pirro heard gunshots and were quickly evacuated from the hotel.

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