Attorneys for Cole Thomas Allen, the suspect accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, have asked a judge to remove him from suicide precautions while in custody. The 31-year-old computer engineer from Torrance, California, allegedly rushed security guards and fired a shotgun, striking a Secret Service agent outside the black-tie gala on April 25.
Details of the Request
According to a court filing obtained by Reuters, Allen was initially placed in a “safe cell” with padded walls and 24-hour lockdown procedures after being booked on April 27. He was required to wear “a vest akin to a strait jacket.” His status was later downgraded to “suicide precautions,” which prohibits phone calls and visits from anyone outside his legal team. The precautions also restrict his time outside the cell to legal visits and showers, both under escort.
On Friday, a nurse recommended that the suicide precautions be lifted, but they remained in place for a visit with Allen’s legal team that day, the filing states. Allen’s lawyers argue that the conditions “amount to punishment” and prevent him from accessing resources such as a tablet that would allow communication with loved ones outside the jail.
The Attack and Aftermath
The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was thrown into chaos when Allen rushed past security and fired at least one gunshot. Court documents reveal he wrote to family members before the attack, indicating his intent to target members of the Trump administration. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other high-profile figures were evacuated from the Washington Hilton ballroom as journalists and guests scrambled for cover.
Authorities said Allen was quickly subdued and taken into custody. No guests were injured, but the event was subsequently canceled. Allen had traveled by train from the West Coast to Chicago on April 21, then to Washington, D.C., on April 24, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Weapons and Charges
At the time of the attack, Allen was carrying a 12-gauge pump-action Mossberg shotgun, a .38 semi-automatic pistol, and “at least three knives and all kinds of paraphernalia,” Pirro said. President Trump posted surveillance footage of the suspect running past the hotel’s security checkpoint, citing transparency and the speed of the agents’ response.
In a manifesto, Allen allegedly mocked the hotel’s security, writing, “Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope it’s corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again.” Authorities confirmed Allen had no criminal record and was not on law enforcement’s radar in Washington, D.C.
Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president and two weapons charges. He was arraigned in federal court on Monday but has not entered a plea. More charges are expected, and he could face up to life in prison if convicted on the assassination-related charge.
