US Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui on Monday criticized the treatment of Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump during an April 25 press gala in Washington, DC, calling his detention conditions 'legally deficient.' Faruqui apologized to Allen, 31, for the 'basic decency of a human being' not being upheld, noting he was placed on suicide watch, held in a padded cell for 23 hours a day, and denied a Bible despite no signs of suicidal intent.

Allen, who has not entered a plea, faces charges of attempted assassination and firearms offenses. Prosecutors argue he posed a danger, a claim his attorneys did not contest, leading to his agreement to remain detained. According to prosecutors, Allen told FBI agents after his arrest that he did not expect to survive the alleged attack.

Faruqui highlighted that pretrial detention should not be punitive, especially for someone with no criminal history. He compared Allen's treatment to that of defendants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, many of whom were held under less restrictive conditions despite facing serious charges. Some of those individuals have since been pardoned by Trump.

The judge expressed concern that Allen was isolated and denied religious materials, calling the situation 'insufficient' and 'legally deficient.' While Allen has since been removed from suicide watch, he remains in restrictive housing—a condition his legal team does not oppose. Faruqui ordered the jail's legal representative to inform the court by Tuesday morning when a final decision on Allen's confinement terms would be made.