Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump during last month's White House Correspondents' Dinner, has been removed from suicide watch at the Washington, D.C., jail where he is being held, according to court documents filed Monday.
Background
Allen, 31, was arrested at the scene of the April 25 shooting at the Washington Hilton, where the annual press gala was underway. President Trump and senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Mike Johnson, were in attendance when the incident occurred. A source familiar with the investigation told CBS News that six shots were fired during the confrontation: one by Allen, and five return shots by a Secret Service officer who was struck in his bulletproof vest. The officer was not seriously injured; investigators believe the shot likely struck a cellphone tucked inside the agent's pocket.
The Investigation
Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump along with two firearms-related charges stemming from the incident. He made his initial appearance in federal court Monday and has agreed to remain detained until trial. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," stated that investigators had definitively determined the bullet striking the Secret Service agent was fired by Allen, contradicting earlier reports suggesting friendly fire.
Allen had been held in a restrictive cell in medical isolation and under 24-hour supervision since his arrest, according to a law enforcement source. His defense team previously filed a motion requesting his removal from suicide watch, arguing that the restrictions "amounted to violations of his rights under the Due Process Clause." The motion detailed that Allen was unable to communicate with loved ones outside the jail, could not retain personal items, and was prohibited from reviewing case documents while confined. He also required escort to showers and was subjected to strip searches upon entering and exiting his cell.
Standard protocol dictates that detainees be held under suicide watch for the initial 72 hours during assessment. A hearing that had been set for Monday to discuss removing Allen from suicide watch was cancelled after he was taken off the monitoring status, court records show. It remains unclear where Allen is currently being held within the federal detention system.
Key Takeaways
- Cole Allen, 31, has been removed from suicide watch at the DC jail where he awaits trial on charges including attempted assassination of President Trump
- Six shots were fired during the April 25 incident: one by Allen and five by a Secret Service officer who was struck in his vest
- The Secret Service agent's injuries appear to have been mitigated by a cellphone in his pocket, sources say
- Defense lawyers argued the restrictive conditions violated Allen's due process rights
- A preliminary hearing is set for May 11; Allen has agreed to remain detained through trial
What's Next
Allen has not yet entered a plea to the charges. His preliminary hearing scheduled for May 11 will be the next major court proceeding, where prosecutors are expected to present evidence supporting the charges. The case remains under investigation by federal authorities including the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.