A U.S. federal judge has apologised to Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, over what was described as harsh and inappropriate treatment in custody.
During a court hearing, Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui expressed concern about Allen’s detention conditions, stating that they fell short of acceptable legal standards. The judge told the 31-year-old suspect, “Whatever you’ve been through, I apologize,” while emphasising the need for humane treatment.
Allen, who is facing multiple charges including attempted assassination, had reportedly been placed on suicide watch, held in near-total isolation, and denied access to basic items such as a Bible despite evaluations suggesting he was not suicidal.
The judge criticised the measures as excessive, noting that pretrial detention should not be punitive even in serious cases. He further described the conditions as “legally deficient” and raised concerns about the broader handling of detainees in similar circumstances.
Allen is accused of carrying out an armed attack during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, where he allegedly attempted to breach security and fired at a Secret Service agent. He was subdued before reaching the main event, and no fatalities were recorded.
Prosecutors, however, defended the strict detention measures, citing statements allegedly made by Allen suggesting he did not expect to survive the incident—an indication they argued justified heightened monitoring.
The case continues to draw national attention, not only because of the gravity of the charges but also due to the legal and ethical questions surrounding the treatment of high-risk detainees in U.S. custody.
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