The suspect accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has complained that his prison conditions violate his rights. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has asked a judge to remove the suicide precautions in his Washington DC jail cell, which has been fitted with additional security features to monitor the alleged attempted assassin.
Legal Arguments Over Prison Conditions
Allen's attorneys stated in new court filings that when he was booked into jail on Monday, staff at the Department of Corrections did not note any security risks on his booking documents. They argued the jail nonetheless placed him in a suicide-proof 'safe cell' with 24-hour lockdown precautions. The cell includes padded walls, and Allen is strip-searched whenever he enters or leaves the room, as well as being forced to wear a vest 'akin to a strait jacket'.
Despite a second assessment on Tuesday that again found no suicide risks, Allen was recommended to remain on suicide watch. On Friday, a nurse concluded he no longer needed such monitoring, but he has not yet been downgraded to a lower security status.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Prosecutors allege that Allen attempted to storm the event on Saturday, where President Trump and several top cabinet officials were attending the press event at the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC. Allen made his first court appearance on April 27, standing emotionless as he faced major federal charges, including the attempted assassination of President Trump, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The Justice Department accused Allen of attempting to attack the dinner by running through a Secret Service checkpoint with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. Footage showed the alleged gunman sprinting at agents and trying to burst into the room, moments before the president and First Lady Melania Trump were hastily evacuated. Allen allegedly exchanged gunfire with Secret Service, and an agent was shot in the chest but saved by a ballistic vest, escaping with minor injuries.
Additional Charges and Security Concerns
Allen also faces a charge of transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and using a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a minimum of 10 years and possible life imprisonment if the weapon was discharged. Though Allen was quickly subdued and did not enter the dining hall, many attendees have questioned how a gunman gained access, especially after two prior assassination attempts on the president.
Prosecutors said Allen smuggled a Mossberg Maverick 12-gauge shotgun and hunting knives into the hotel by slipping through an internal stairway that was less closely monitored than hallways and elevators. After running down about 10 stories, he emerged near the initial screening area where magnetometers and Secret Service were stationed. Allen was tackled to the ground after the exchange of gunfire, and footage showed him shirtless on the floor as he was taken into custody.
Manifesto and Motive
According to a manifesto sent to family members moments before the attack, Allen was attempting to target the president and his inner circle. The manifesto reportedly read: 'Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself am oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial.'
