A federal judge has sharply criticised the conditions under which a man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump is being held, saying he was “very troubled” by the restrictions imposed during the suspect’s first days in custody.
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Cole Allen faces charges of attempting to assassinate the president and two firearms offences following an alleged incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on 25 April. Prosecutors say Allen, carrying a shotgun, ran through a security checkpoint above the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel, where about 2,600 guests – including the president, senior officials and journalists – were attending the annual event.
Allen has agreed to remain in custody while awaiting trial, but his lawyers argue that the conditions of his detention at the D.C. jail have been excessively harsh.
Judge questions jail conditions
During a hearing on Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui pressed officials from the District of Columbia Department of Corrections about Allen’s treatment since his arrival at the facility.
Allen’s lawyers told the court he was placed on suicide watch shortly after entering jail last week. Under that status, he was held in a padded cell with lights on at all times and without access to a phone or tablet.
The following day, officials downgraded the status to suicide precautions, which still significantly limited his ability to make calls or leave his cell, according to his legal team.
Lawyers also said Allen had been denied access to a Bible, had not yet received a working tablet for legal materials and had been unable to meet privately with his attorneys during his first week in detention.
Addressing the defendant directly in court, Faruqui said he was “very troubled by the conditions you’ve been treated to,” and apologised for the issues raised about Allen’s treatment.
Officials cite safety concerns
Tony Towns, acting general counsel for the D.C. Department of Corrections, told the judge that many of the problems raised during the hearing would be resolved in the coming days.
He said a tablet allowing Allen to read court filings and legal documents would soon be set up.
Towns also said a psychiatrist had determined Allen posed a suicide risk, though the written medical evaluation was not included in the court record. Faruqui asked to see the assessment.
Officials have also issued a separation order for Allen, meaning he is housed apart from other inmates and did not travel to court alongside other detainees.
“We don’t really know how to keep him safe, your honour, outside of separation,” Towns said.
Faruqui responded that the situation itself appeared to indicate a problem.
Wider concerns raised in court
The judge, who has previously criticised aspects of federal prosecutions, said the case raised broader concerns about how detainees are treated.
Faruqui said he was particularly struck by what he described as differences between Allen’s conditions and those faced by some defendants charged over the January 6 United States Capitol attack, many of whom were later pardoned and held in medium- or low-security facilities rather than in strict isolation.
“A lot of people seem to have forgotten January 6,” he said, adding that pardons may erase convictions but not the historical events themselves.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations against Allen, Faruqui said he struggled to understand why the current detention conditions had been imposed.
Prosecutors defend precautions
After the hearing, Washington’s top federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro criticised the judge in a message on X, saying he appeared to believe a suspect accused of attempting to assassinate the president deserved preferential treatment.
Prosecutors also told the court that Allen had made statements to FBI agents after the alleged attack suggesting he did not expect to survive.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine said that raised concerns about potential suicide risk.
Next steps in detention decision
Faruqui ordered the Department of Corrections to update the court by Tuesday morning on how long it will take to decide where Allen will be held while awaiting trial.
If officials cannot provide a clear timeline, the judge said he would convene another hearing to examine the issue further.
Towns told the court that a prison housing board meeting would soon be held to determine Allen’s placement, stressing that the department’s primary concern is both his safety and his health.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 5 May 2026
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