Judge ‘disturbed’ over ‘legally deficient’ treatment of Trump gala shooting suspect

Key Points:

• US Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui apologized to Cole Allen, accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, for the "legally deficient" and harsh treatment he received in a Washington DC jail, including suicide watch placement and denial of a Bible.
• Faruqui expressed concern that Allen, who has no criminal history, was subjected to inappropriate conditions such as being housed in a padded cell for 23 hours a day and separated from other inmates.
• Allen agreed to remain detained after prosecutors argued he posed a danger; he faces charges of attempted assassination and firearms offenses but has not entered a plea.
• The judge criticized the punitive nature of Allen’s pre-trial detention, noting that defendants from the January 6 Capitol attack, who engaged in comparable conduct, were treated more favorably in the same jail.
• Faruqui ordered jail officials to inform him by Tuesday about the final decision regarding Allen’s confinement conditions to ensure he is treated with basic human decency.