Judge criticises prosecutors in D.C. gala gunman hearing

During a court session to decide if accused gunman Cole Allen should stay in jail before his trial regarding the White House Correspondents' Dinner incident, US Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya criticised federal prosecutors for proceeding with the case despite Allen's agreement to remain detained.

The dispute between the judge and prosecutors arose when Upadhyaya called the attorneys forward to review why the government wanted Allen to stay detained.

Although the attendees couldn't hear the conversation, CBS News obtained a transcript of Thursday's session.

"I don't understand the situation here. You seem keen to present your case to someone apart from the Court," Upadhyaya said to the prosecutors. "I don't wish for this to become chaotic. We're not focusing on evidence right now."

Jocelyn Ballantine, a prosecutor on the case, assured the judge that the investigation, now five days in, would continue to share findings with the defense team.

"Just provide what you can to them before the preliminary hearing. That's all," Upadhyaya instructed Ballantine. The following hearing is scheduled for May 11.

The judge hinted at the possibility of "significant concerns and potentially some documents related to national security."

"But I prefer not to delve into which documents you possess," Upadhyaya noted. "Neither of you likely desires that dialogue on public record."

She instructed the Justice Department to "offer what is possible" to Allen's defense attorneys before next month's hearing.

Allen, aged 31, faces charges for attempting to assassinate the president and two firearms offenses. He hasn't yet submitted a plea.

Federal investigators claimed Allen, carrying two guns and multiple knives, charged through security during the White House Correspondents' Dinner last Saturday and shot at an officer.

He was caught by federal agents. President Trump was one floor below with key officials and around 2,600 guests.

Leading up to Thursday's session, prosecutors insisted that the judge confirm Allen's pre-trial detention, emphasizing the grave nature of the charges in legal documents.

While the defense countered in court documents for Allen's release, his attorney, Tezira Abe, told the court from the outset that Allen accepted his detention.

Prosecutor Charles Jones pushed for the hearing to continue, wanting to share more insights with the court, but Judge Upadhyaya declined.

"The defendant consents to being held. He's effectively agreeing to your motion. Who is the extra information intended for?" she questioned, further asking, "What's the point of putting more data on record when the defendant approves your motion?"

"If the defendant later disputes his detention, repeating the discussion before another judge, whether it's me or someone else, won't be efficient," she advised Jones.

Several hours after the session, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro from Washington, D.C., who is prosecuting the case, released a video showing the suspect allegedly sprinting past the security outside the dinner.

Prosecutors also submitted photographs to the court. These included images of the ballroom entrance, weapons and ammunition seized by authorities, and objects discovered in the hotel room Allen allegedly booked at the Washington Hilton.