Cole Tomas Allen, the man suspected of dashing past security at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., last month, pleaded not guilty to accusations of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump and other counts.
Allen was arraigned Monday in federal court in Washington, DC. Allen, prosecutors said, approached the hotel where the correspondents’ dinner was being held armed with a shotgun on April 26 while the president and other government officials were on a different floor.
It’s reported that Allen opened fire while racing past a security checkpoint. He was also pleading not guilty to assaulting a federal officer on Monday. A Secret Service agent was shot in his protective vest and survived.
Allen’s lawyers earlier sought to have top Justice Department officials disqualified from involvement in his case, saying there is a conflict of interest because they were present during the incident.
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Citing the attendance of US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at the event, lawyers argued there is an “appearance of partiality.”
The case against Allen has already had wild moments in the courtroom.
A federal magistrate judge sharply criticized the treatment of a man accused of attempting an attack at a high-profile Washington event, apologizing in court and warning that the conditions of his detention may violate basic legal standards.
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During a hearing on Monday, Zia Faruqui addressed defendant Cole Allen directly, saying the court has a responsibility to ensure that individuals held before trial are treated in a manner that is both safe and consistent with the law.
Faruqui said he did not believe that standard had been met in Allen’s case.
“It’s the court’s job when recommending detention to ensure it’s done in a responsible and safe way,” Faruqui said, adding that he did not think that had happened here.
He went further, offering an apology to Allen for the conditions he had faced while in custody.
Allen is accused of attempting violence at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a major annual event attended by political leaders, journalists, and administration officials. The case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the allegations and the heightened security concerns surrounding the incident.
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But Monday’s hearing focused less on the charges themselves and more on how Allen has been treated since his arrest.
According to details discussed in court, Allen has been held under extremely restrictive conditions inside the Washington, D.C., jail system. Those conditions included placement in a padded cell under near-constant observation, with limited access to basic privileges such as phone calls, reading materials, and recreation.
Faruqui questioned whether those measures were justified, noting that they appeared to go beyond standard pretrial detention practices. He said the restrictions resembled punitive measures rather than precautions based on medical or safety assessments.
The judge emphasized that individuals held in pretrial detention are presumed innocent and must be treated accordingly, regardless of the severity of the allegations against them.
He also compared Allen’s treatment to that of defendants charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, many of whom were accused of political violence but were housed under less restrictive conditions after initial legal challenges.
Faruqui said Allen appeared to be facing harsher conditions than those of the other defendants, raising concerns about consistency and fairness within the detention system.
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The D.C. jail is operated by local authorities, even though it houses federal detainees. During the hearing, officials from the D.C. Department of Corrections defended their handling of the case, saying the measures were intended to ensure Allen’s safety rather than punish him.
However, Faruqui noted that medical professionals had not supported that assessment, and he questioned whether the restrictions were based on appropriate clinical evaluations.
He also raised broader concerns about how detainees are treated in high-profile cases, suggesting that Allen’s situation could reflect larger systemic issues.
As part of his ruling, Faruqui ordered jail officials to provide an update on Allen’s status and to explain whether he would be moved to less restrictive conditions. He indicated that if the jail could not provide appropriate housing, alternative arrangements might need to be considered, potentially involving federal authorities.
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