U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui criticized the harsh jail conditions imposed on Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25. The judge described the treatment as 'legally deficient,' noting that Allen had been placed under suicide watch and denied access to basic items like a Bible.
Key Takeaways
A federal judge criticized the harsh treatment of Cole Allen, accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump during a White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting on April 25. Judge Zia Faruqui apologized for the 'legally deficient' conditions, including suicide watch and restricted access to basic items like a Bible.
- A buckshot pellet from Allen's weapon was found in a Secret Service agent's vest
- Prosecutors allege Allen acted with premeditation and intent to kill Trump
- Judge Faruqui noted Allen faces harsher conditions than Jan. 6 defendants
Allen, a 31-year-old computer scientist from Torrance, California, allegedly ran through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was held and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent. A buckshot pellet from his weapon was found intertwined with the fiber of the agent's protective vest, definitively linking him to the attack.
Judge Faruqui expressed concern that Allen had been treated more harshly than defendants in Jan. 6, 2021, criminal cases. He emphasized the obligation to ensure Allen is 'treated with basic decency of a human being,' according to Reuters. The judge also noted that Allen has no prior criminal history.
Allen's defense team had initially sought to remove him from suicide watch but withdrew their motion after learning the restriction had already been lifted, per Fox News. Prosecutors have charged Allen with attempted assassination of President Trump, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegally transporting guns and ammunition across state lines. According to Al Jazeera, anyone convicted of attempted assassination faces life in prison.
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