A federal judge on Monday refused to disqualify acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro from the criminal case involving the alleged shooter at the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rejected an effort by attorneys for Cole Tomas Allen, the California man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the April 26 event at the Washington Hilton, according to the Washington Examiner.

Allen's legal team argued that Blanche and Pirro should be removed from the prosecution because both attended the annual dinner and could potentially be considered witnesses or victims.

The defense also cited Pirro's longtime friendship with Trump and public comments made by both officials after the incident.

McFadden, however, found no legal basis for disqualification.

"Neither Blanche nor Pirro is a victim of Allen's alleged crimes," the judge wrote in an 18-page ruling. "Allen stands accused of attempting to assassinate the President, assaulting a United States officer with a deadly weapon, and committing two firearm offenses."

According to prosecutors, Allen, 31, allegedly sprinted through a Secret Service security checkpoint while armed and intended to target Trump and other senior administration officials attending the correspondents' dinner.

Authorities say a Secret Service officer was wounded during the confrontation before Allen was taken into custody.

The ruling marks a significant victory for the Justice Department as it pursues one of the most serious political violence cases of Trump's second term.

Defense attorneys argued that Blanche and Pirro's presence at the event created at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Similar arguments appeared in court filings reported by multiple outlets. Allen's lawyers cited comments by FBI Director Kash Patel, who said after the shooting, "This one hits a little differently. We were all there."

Allen's attorneys also argued that because prosecutors allege he intended to target high-ranking administration officials, Blanche and Pirro could theoretically have been among those at risk.

McFadden rejected that reasoning, finding that simply being present at the hotel did not make either official a legal victim of the alleged crimes.

He also dismissed arguments that Pirro's friendship with Trump required her recusal, noting that presidents routinely appoint political allies and longtime associates to senior DOJ positions.

Pirro previously defended her role in the case, telling CNN that the fact she attended the dinner does not affect her ability to prosecute it fairly.

Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges that include attempted assassination of the president, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and firearms offenses.

The case remains in its early stages. Prosecutors have said discovery will involve thousands of pages of records and extensive digital evidence tracing Allen's alleged activities from California to Washington, D.C., ahead of trial.