Federal Judge Zia Farooqi has apologized to Cole Allen, who is accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, due to severe prison conditions.
The apology was announced on May 4 following a meeting with the Department of Corrections (DOC) legal representative. During the discussion, Judge Farooqi expressed being “amazed and concerned” about the treatment of Allen in custody.
Allen has been placed under constant surveillance because he is at high risk for suicide. At the end of the meeting, the judge raised serious concerns that Allen’s constitutional rights may have been violated. Specifically, reports indicate that Allen was denied access to a Bible and had limited opportunities to meet with his attorneys.
Additionally, Allen has been confined in a cell without windows and prohibited from leaving the facility for walks daily. The prosecution stated that such conditions were necessary because Allen told federal agents on the night of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner attack that he “did not expect to survive” during his mission to carry out an assassination attempt on Trump.
As a result, Judge Farooqi demanded that the U.S. Department of Corrections provide a detailed report by the next morning specifying where and under what conditions Allen is being held.
