A federal judge sharply criticized prosecutors during a White House gunman hearing in Washington, D.C., after they attempted to continue arguing for pretrial detention even though the accused man agreed to remain in custody.
The case involves 31-year-old Cole Allen, who is accused of attempting to attack the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He faces serious federal charges, including attempted assassination of the president and weapons-related offenses. He has not yet entered a plea.
The White House gunman hearing took place before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya. The judge questioned why prosecutors were still pushing for a full detention argument when the defendant had already agreed to stay in jail while awaiting trial.
During the hearing, the judge said she did not understand the purpose of continuing the argument. She told prosecutors she did not want the court process to turn into what she called a “circus.” She also said she wanted to avoid unnecessary disputes over early evidence sharing.
The exchange became tense when prosecutors asked to present additional information to support their case. The judge rejected the request and said it was not needed at this stage. She said the court should not spend time on arguments that would not change the outcome.
She also told prosecutors to simply share the evidence they already had with the defense team. She said all relevant materials should be provided before the next hearing. The judge stressed that this would help keep the case fair and efficient.
The White House gunman hearing also touched on possible sensitive material. The judge noted there could be national security-related documents involved in the case. She warned both sides to be careful about what is discussed in open court.
She instructed the Justice Department to provide only what it could at this stage. She said the defense should receive all available information ahead of the next court date. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 11.
Prosecutors say Allen carried multiple weapons, including guns and knives. They allege he ran through a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner event last Saturday. They also say he fired at a law enforcement officer before being arrested.
The event was held at a Washington hotel. President Donald Trump was reportedly present on another floor of the building, along with thousands of guests and senior officials.
After the arrest, prosecutors pushed for Allen to remain in detention. They argued the seriousness of the charges made it necessary to keep him in custody before trial. However, Allen’s legal team later agreed that he would stay detained for now.
At the White House gunman hearing, defense lawyers said they were not seeking his release at this time. This changed the direction of the hearing and led the judge to question why a full detention argument was still being pursued.
The judge said continuing the argument would waste court time. She also said it would likely be repeated later in the case, making it unnecessary at this stage. She urged both sides to focus on preparing evidence for the next hearing instead.
The court also discussed how evidence will be handled. Prosecutors said they are still in the early stages of their investigation. They are expected to continue collecting and sharing information with the defense team in the coming days.
Shortly after the hearing, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro released a video connected to the case. She said it showed Allen running through the security checkpoint before the incident. Prosecutors also presented images of weapons, ammunition, and items recovered from a hotel room linked to Allen.
The White House gunman hearing has drawn attention due to the seriousness of the charges and the location of the alleged attack. Legal experts say the case will involve large amounts of evidence and may take months to move forward.
The judge’s comments highlight concerns about efficiency in the court process. She emphasized that early hearings should not be used for unnecessary arguments when key facts are not yet in dispute.
Allen remains in federal custody as the investigation continues. More evidence is expected to be shared before the next hearing. The court will review the case again on May 11 as prosecutors build their case and the defense prepares its response.
