SouthernWorldwide.com – A federal judge expressed significant concern on Monday regarding the treatment of Cole Allen, the individual accused of being the gunman at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The judge stated he was “very troubled” by the conditions of Allen’s confinement in the D.C. jail.
Prosecutors have brought charges against Allen, including attempted assassination of the president and two firearm-related offenses. It is alleged that Allen, armed with a shotgun, breached a security checkpoint on the floor above the ballroom where the April 25 dinner was taking place. The event at the Washington Hilton was attended by approximately 2,600 guests, including President Trump, high-ranking administration officials, and members of the press corps. Allen, who is 31 years old, has not yet entered a plea.
While Allen’s legal team has agreed to his continued detention pending trial, they have raised objections to his treatment. According to his lawyers, Allen was placed on suicide watch shortly after his arrival at the jail last week. This involved being held in a padded cell with constant lighting and no access to a phone or tablet. The following day, his status was downgraded to suicide precautions, which still imposed significant restrictions on his phone access and ability to leave his cell.
On Friday, Allen’s lawyers reported that he had been reassessed and was no longer considered a suicide risk. However, he remained in a form of protective custody, leading to his segregation from other inmates.
During a hearing on Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui questioned a representative from the D.C. Department of Corrections about the jail’s conditions. The judge specifically addressed allegations from Allen’s lawyers that the defendant was denied access to a Bible, that his tablet had not yet been set up, and that he was unable to meet privately with his legal team the previous week.
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At one point during the proceedings, Judge Faruqui directly addressed Allen, stating he was “very troubled” by the “conditions you’ve been treated to.” The judge also offered an apology to Allen for the issues encountered during the initial week of his detention.
Tony Towns, the acting general counsel for the D.C. Department of Corrections, assured the court that the issues raised would be resolved in the coming days. Towns indicated that a tablet, which would enable Allen to review court documents and access legal materials, would be set up shortly.
Towns also stated that a psychiatrist had evaluated Allen and determined he was a suicide risk. However, the specific medical form detailing this evaluation was not yet available. Judge Faruqui expressed his desire to review this document.
Furthermore, Towns explained that a separation order is in place for Allen, meaning he did not travel to court with other defendants and is kept in his cell apart from the general inmate population. Towns cited safety concerns, stating, “We don’t really know how to keep him safe, your honor, outside of separation.”
Judge Faruqui responded to this by remarking, “That seems to be a problem then.”
Judge Faruqui, known for his critiques of the Justice Department’s case management, voiced concerns about the potential treatment of less prominent criminal defendants. He also conveyed his “fascination and concern” that Allen’s treatment differed from that of many January 6 defendants who received pardons. Faruqui noted that these individuals were often placed in medium- or low-security prisons and were not held in complete isolation.
“A lot of people seem to have forgotten January 6,” Faruqui commented. “Pardons may erase convictions, but they do not erase history.”
While acknowledging the extreme seriousness of the charges against Allen, Judge Faruqui stated, “I’m not understanding how we are where we are.”
Following the hearing, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro criticized Judge Faruqui’s stance on social media. She wrote that the judge “believes a defendant armed to the teeth and attempting to assassinate the president is entitled to preferential treatment in his confinement compared to every other defendant.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine, who is prosecuting the case, alleged in court that Allen had told FBI agents after the incident that he did not anticipate surviving. Ballantine suggested this indicates a potential suicide risk.
Judge Faruqui ordered the D.C. Department of Corrections to provide an update to the court by Tuesday morning regarding the timeline for determining Allen’s pre-trial detention facility. If a prompt answer is not provided, Faruqui indicated he would schedule another hearing to seek a justification.
Towns informed Judge Faruqui that the process for determining Allen’s placement is ongoing but assured the court that an answer would be provided as soon as possible. He reiterated that the Department of Corrections’ primary concern is Allen’s safety and health, and that a prison housing board meeting would soon be convened to decide his location.
