The man charged with trying to assassinate President Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was removed from suicide watch on Sunday, court records show.
Defense lawyers for Cole Allen, 31, said their client was no longer on suicide watch or suicide precautions at his DC prison after they filed a motion on Saturday, NBC News reported.
The defense argued that Allen had never shown any suicidal tendencies while in custody, claiming his “placement on suicide watch and suicide precautions amount to violations of his rights,” according to their filing over the weekend.
Allen, who tried to storm the WHCD dinner last week armed with multiple guns and knives, had allegedly been held under several levels of suicide watch since his April 25 arrest.
The suspect was at one point held in a padded “safe cell,” which was under 24-hour lockdown procedures that required him to “wear a vest akin to a strait jacket,” his lawyers said.
It also required him to be strip-searched upon entry and exit to the cell. Allen was not allowed to leave except for legal or medical visits, according to the filing.
The conditions were allegedly put in place despite multiple assessments that found Allen showed no indications of being a suicide risk.
“These conditions are excessive restrictions on his liberty that serve no justifiable purpose and deprive Mr. Allen of dignity while incarcerated,” the defense concluded.
Allen, a California teacher, was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives when he stormed the security perimeter a floor above the ballroom where Trump, administration officials and hundreds of reporters were gathered for the WHCD, according to authorities.
In the suspect’s alleged manifesto, which was first revealed by The Post, he stated his targets were “Administration officials (not including [FBI chief] Mr. [Kash] Patel).”
Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for the District of Columbia, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that it was clear that Trump was Allen’s top target.
It is very clear, based upon the fact that as soon as this president said that he was going to be at the Hilton for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on March 2nd, [Allen] then made the decision to hatch the plan,” Pirro said.
Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The suspect has yet to enter a plea as he remains in custody in a Washington, DC prison.
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