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Cole Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, is currently under suicide watch, a precaution his defense team is challenging. They have submitted a motion requesting the court to lift this status, claiming it infringes on his rights.
An emergency hearing is scheduled for Monday where Allen’s attorneys will appeal to Judge Zia Faruqui to end the suicide watch. They argue that the conditions, including 24-hour isolation in a “safe cell,” impede Allen’s ability to stay connected with his family and effectively participate in his defense strategy.
The defense team’s motion highlights that the restrictions prevent Allen from using a jail-issued tablet, a tool that would enable communication with his loved ones. They also state that the inability to keep personal items in his cell obstructs his access to important legal documents, thus limiting his capacity to engage in his defense.
The lawyers further argue that the suicide watch is “unnecessary” and infringes on Allen’s rights by stripping him of dignity. The motion criticizes the conditions requiring him to endure escorted showers, strip searches upon cell entry or exit, and the wearing of a padded vest.
A photograph of Cole Allen, captured in a hotel room prior to the alleged assassination attempt on Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, has been shared by the Justice Department.
The hearing may also reveal how the prosecution plans to move forward in the case.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told CNN on Sunday that prosecutors would bring the case before a grand jury this week and suggested they’re working toward securing an indictment with additional charges.
Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Donald J Trump via Truth Social/Handout via Reuters)
Allen, a 31-year-old California computer scientist, is accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25 after allegedly rushing a Secret Service checkpoint while armed with multiple weapons.
Cole Allen wearing a graduation gown after obtaining his master’s degree in 2025, left. A Secret Service agent fires at Cole Allen, suspected in the assassination attempt of President Donald Trump on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Cole Allen/LinkedIn; Obtained by The Washington Post)
Allen now faces federal charges, including the attempted assassination of the president, with more expected.
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