A federal magistrate judge apologized to the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump Monday over the restrictive conditions placed on him in jail.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui claimed that Cole Allen’s placement in severe lockdown appeared unfair and not based on any medical assessment, Politico reported. He also complained that Allen was being treated more harshly than those arrested for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, even though those defendants did not try to assassinate a sitting president.
“The Jan. 6 defendants all were moved to the [Central Treatment Facility],” Faruqui said. “Pardons may erase convictions but they do not erase history … He’s being treated differently than anyone I’ve ever observed.”
Many January 6 defendants complained of their conditions in jail, stating they were placed in severe lockdowns and had limited access to their attorneys. Faruqui, who oversaw many of the defendants’ cases, stated that Allen is being subjected to restrictions that no Jan. 6 defendant ever faced.
NEW: Judge apologizes in court to WHCA Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui said that he was “fascinated and disturbed” by Allen’s treatment in jail.
Allen was placed on suicide watch when he was first imprisoned. Prosecutors argued that since Allen… pic.twitter.com/3X88PVK45E
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 4, 2026
Faruqui issued an apology to Allen and ordered jail officials to update him by Tuesday morning on whether Allen would be moved from his current conditions, Politico reported. Allen is currently in severe lockdown, which includes a temporary suicide watch that required a 24-hour placement in a padded cell without access to phone calls, books or recreational time.
The judge ordered that Allen be treated with “dignity,” such as having access to a Bible, Politico reported.
WTF? Magistrate judge Zia Faruqui in DC APOLOGIZED to the WHCA shooter Cole Allen for the “treatment” he’s received so far in jail
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 pic.twitter.com/ovbvgqhEbo
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 4, 2026
Tony Towns, the general counsel for the D.C. Department of Corrections, said Allen was placed in severe lockdown for his own safety, according to Politico. Prosecutors said Allen informed them during his arrest that he did not expect to survive the assassination attempt, which could have prompted the jail to consider him a suicide risk.
Faruqui said he interpreted Allen’s comment to mean that he expected to get shot by Secret Service agents.
Allen allegedly rushed the security checkpoint inside the Washington Hilton on April 25 and fired bullets in the hotel in which Trump was attending the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He allegedly exchanged gunfire with a Secret Service agent who he is accused of shooting, though the agent wore a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Allen with attempting to assassinate a U.S. president, transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The attempted assassination charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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