Judge Faults Jail Over Treatment of Alleged WHCD Gunman
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui criticized the D.C. jail's restrictive handling of Cole Allen, ordered a DOC update by Tuesday morning, and apologized to Allen for his confinement conditions.
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Overview
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui on Monday said he was 'very troubled' by restrictive post-arrest conditions for Cole Allen, apologized to Allen, and ordered the D.C. Department of Corrections to update the court by Tuesday morning.
Allen, 31, is charged with attempting to assassinate the president and two firearms counts after authorities say he ran through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton on April 25 during the White House Correspondents' dinner.
Acting D.C. Department of Corrections general counsel Tony Towns said confinement decisions aimed to address safety after a jail psychiatrist assessed suicide risk, while prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine said Allen told FBI agents he did not expect to survive the attack.
Defense attorneys said Allen was placed in a padded 'safe' cell with constant lighting, denied phone calls, legal work and a requested Bible, and was later moved from suicide watch to protective custody.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro criticized Faruqui on social media, and Faruqui said he would schedule another hearing if the jail does not promptly justify Allen's confinement.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this report neutrally: they rely on direct quotes from the judge, prosecutors and defense, balance descriptions of alleged harsh detention with the alleged violent plot, and limit editorializing. The coverage emphasizes documented courtroom exchange and factual procedural developments rather than using loaded language or one-sided assertions.