A federal judge apologized twice to the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, expressing grave concerns about his jail conditions.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui made the remarks during an emergency hearing Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C. He told 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, "Whatever you've been through, I apologize for that now," and reiterated the apology at the hearing's end. Faruqui described Allen's treatment as "legally deficient" and akin to solitary confinement, despite a mental health evaluation finding no suicide risk.

Allen faces charges of attempted assassination of the president, interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges carry a potential life sentence if convicted, though he has not entered a plea. He agreed last week to remain detained pretrial.

The incident occurred on April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton during the annual dinner. Allen allegedly rushed a security checkpoint armed with a Mossberg pump-action shotgun, handgun, knives, and ammunition. He exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents, striking one agent's bullet-resistant vest with a shotgun pellet. President Trump was unharmed, and Allen was apprehended injured at the scene. Evidence includes a selfie Allen took in his hotel room showing his gear, online searches tracking Trump's arrival, and surveillance video of him casing the area.

After his arrest, Allen told FBI agents he did not expect to survive the attack. Prosecutors cited this as justification for initial suicide watch protocols, but Allen's lawyers argued the measures were excessive. He was held in a padded "safe cell" with 23-hour lockdowns, constant lighting, a restrictive vest, strip searches, and denied a Bible or court documents. Access to counsel was limited, with Allen restrained in a cage during meetings. He was removed from suicide watch Sunday but remained in restrictive housing.

Faruqui noted pretrial detention should not be punitive and compared Allen's conditions unfavorably to those of January 6, 2021, Capitol riot defendants, whom he said received better treatment despite similar political violence allegations. "He should not be in solitary confinement," the judge said, adding it did not "add up" compared to others, including terrorists and gang members. He ordered the D.C. Department of Corrections to update him by Tuesday on Allen's housing placement.

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro criticized the hearing on social media, stating the judge believed the heavily armed suspect deserved "preferential treatment" over other defendants. Allen, who has no prior criminal history, remains in custody awaiting further proceedings.