Judge Apologizes to Cole Tomas Allen Over DC Jail Solitary Confinement

A federal judge apologized in court to Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, after concluding that the Department of Corrections’ jail conditions were “seemingly unprompted solitary confinement for days.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui told Allen he was sorry that he had been held under suicide watch despite a mental-health exam finding he did not pose a threat to harm himself, according to Politico as cited by the New York Post.

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Faruqui said it was the court’s job to make sure Allen was jailed “responsibly and fairly,” and he added that Allen was “being treated differently than anyone I’ve ever observed.”

The judge ordered the D.C. jail to update him by Tuesday morning about where Allen would be held going forward, and he said he would need justification for any decision to tighten restrictions.

WJLA reported that Faruqui set a Tuesday morning deadline for the jail’s housing board to adjudicate which section of the jail Allen should be held in.

NBC News reported that Allen’s lawyers said he was no longer on suicide status in the Washington D.C. jail, and they said they were withdrawing a motion to cancel a hearing that had been scheduled for noon on Monday.

The case is being litigated while Allen remains in custody after waiving his right to challenge pretrial detention for now, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 11, according to the Washington Examiner.

During the Monday hearing, Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui criticized the Washington, D.C. jail’s handling of Cole Tomas Allen by comparing it to how defendants charged in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot were treated.

Politico reported that Faruqui said “The Jan. 6 defendants all were moved to the CTF,” and he emphasized that “Pardons may erase convictions but they do not erase history.”

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CNN likewise quoted Faruqui saying, “Pardons may erase convictions, but they do not erase history,” as he compared Allen’s treatment to January 6 defendants.

The Washington Examiner reported Faruqui saying, “I never had a Jan. 6 defendant put in five-point restraints or in a safe cell,” and it described him as questioning why Allen faced stricter confinement measures.

Faruqui also told Allen, “Whatever you’ve been through I apologize for that now,” according to Newsweek, and CNN quoted the judge saying, “I’m sorry,” and “Whatever you’ve been through, I apologize for that now.”

In the New York Post account, Faruqui said, “He should not be in solitary confinement,” and he ordered the feds to update him by Tuesday morning about where Allen would be held going forward.

The judge’s remarks extended beyond housing, with Politico quoting him saying, “He can be both kept safe and treated with dignity. Right now, it’s not working.”

Faruqui also directed jail officials to provide Allen with a Bible after defense counsel raised the request, with CNN stating the judge told the jail to provide Allen with the Bible he had requested.

Multiple outlets described the restrictive conditions that defense attorneys said Cole Tomas Allen faced in the D.C. jail, including padded cells, constant lighting, and limits on access to phones, books, and religious material.

“Washington shooting: new footage of the shooter released In the United States, nearly a week after a new assassination attempt against Donald Trump, the American justice system released new footage”

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Politico said Allen’s placement in severe lockdown included “a temporary suicide watch that required 24-hour-a-day placement in a padded, lighted cell without access to phone calls, books, religious material or recreational time.”

WJLA described the “safe cell” as “a padded room with constant lighting and 24-hour lockdown conditions,” and it said Allen was required to wear a restrictive vest and was only allowed out of the cell for legal or medical visits.

NBC News quoted a footnote from a defense filing describing the safe cell as “a padded room with constant lighting and 24-hour lockdown procedures,” including that the inmate had to wear a vest akin to a strait jacket, be strip searched upon entry and exit, and not leave the cell except for legal or medical visits.

Defense filings also said the restrictions prevented Allen from communicating with anyone besides his legal team and accessing commissary or resources such as jail tablets, according to NBC News.

The New York Post reported that Allen’s lawyer, Eugene Jeen-Young Kim Ohm, told the judge Allen was held in a padded cell and on what amounted to 24-hour lock down, and Ohm said Allen wasn’t allowed to make a call to him, was barred from having any court records in his cell, and wasn’t even allowed to have a Bible.

Prosecutors and jail officials argued the measures were tied to suicide risk assessments, with the New York Post saying prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine argued the FBI recommended the measure because Allen told agents after his apprehension April 25 that “he did not expect to survive the attempted assassination of the president.”

WJLA reported that defense attorneys said Allen was placed on suicide watch shortly after arriving at the D.C. jail “despite, they claim, showing no signs of being a risk to himself,” and it said the designation placed him in the safe cell.

Tony Towns, the general counsel for the D.C. Department of Corrections, said decisions about Allen’s housing were made with an eye toward his safety, not to be punitive, according to Politico.

The dispute over Allen’s confinement conditions played out alongside prosecutors’ account of what he told investigators and what he allegedly did during the incident.

The New York Post said prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine argued the FBI recommended suicide-watch measures because Allen told agents after his apprehension April 25 that “he did not expect to survive the attempted assassination of the president.”

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Politico reported that prosecutors “said little during the hearing except to note” that Allen informed FBI agents the night of the alleged assassination attempt that he hadn’t expected to survive, and it said Faruqui underscored that medical professionals disagreed and that he interpreted the remark as an expectation of being shot rather than suicidal intent.

The Washington Examiner said Tony Towns told the court Allen’s placement was based on an “ongoing” psychiatric evaluation, and it quoted Ballantine adding that Allen’s initial detention status was influenced by statements he made after his arrest.

Defense attorneys argued the conditions interfered with Allen’s ability to prepare a defense, and NBC News said Allen’s lawyers characterized the suicide precautions as “demeaning” while he awaited further hearings.

WJLA reported that defense attorneys said they were initially unable to speak with him privately and had to communicate through a jail phone while he was restrained in a locked cell.

The judge’s actions drew immediate public reaction from U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, with the New York Post quoting her tweet: “Welcome to Washington, DC, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Faruqui 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.”

Newsweek also quoted social media criticism, including Nick Sortor’s post saying, “DC judges are an absolute JOKE. The man who attempted to KlLL PRESIDENT TRUMP doesn't like his cell conditions?! Tell him to go f*** himself,” and it quoted Collin Rugg saying, “these judges are absolutely insane and belong in prison.”

In contrast, the judge’s own remarks included a direct apology to Allen, with CNN quoting, “I’m sorry,” and “Whatever you’ve been through, I apologize for that now.”

The judge’s order and the shifting suicide-watch status set up the next phase of the case, with multiple outlets describing deadlines and upcoming court steps.

“Defense lawyers for the man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last week say he is no longer on suicide status in the Washington D”

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WJLA said Faruqui gave the D.C. Department of Corrections a Tuesday morning deadline to notify when the jail’s housing board would adjudicate which section of the jail Allen should be held in, and it said the judge apologized at the beginning and end of the hearing.

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Politico reported that Faruqui ordered D.C. jail officials to update him by Tuesday morning on when and whether Allen would be moved into less restrictive conditions.

Newsweek described Faruqui’s Sunday order that the parties and a representative of the Department of Corrections appear in Courtroom 4 at noon on May 4, 2026 to explain the conditions of confinement, and it said the judge rejected a request to vacate Monday’s scheduled hearing.

The New York Post said Faruqui ordered the feds to update him by Tuesday morning about where Allen will be held going forward and said he’d need justification for any decision to tighten restrictions.

NBC News reported that Allen’s attorneys said they were withdrawing their motion to cancel the Monday hearing because it was moot after Allen was no longer on suicide status, and it said Allen was previously being deprived of dignity and resources by being unnecessarily kept under suicide precautions.

The Washington Examiner said Allen remains in custody after waiving his right to challenge pretrial detention for now and that a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11.

Beyond housing, the case’s stakes remain tied to the charges Allen faces, with the New York Post stating he is charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and it said he faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The New York Post also said Allen has yet to enter a plea, and the Washington Examiner similarly said Allen has not yet entered a plea.

As the legal battle continues, the judge’s focus on whether the jail can justify its approach could lead to further involvement by federal authorities, with the Washington Examiner quoting Faruqui warning he would consider involving federal authorities to reassess Allen’s placement and explore alternative housing options if the jail could not justify its approach.