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"I Don’t Want This to Turn into a Circus": Judge Admonishes Prosecutors in Press Dinner Shooting Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge privately admonished prosecutors during a detention hearing on Thursday for what she described as an attempt to "grandstand" in the high-profile case of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman.
According to a transcript obtained by CNN, Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya called prosecutors and the defense team to the bench for a private exchange out of earshot of the press and public. The judge expressed concern that the Justice Department was attempting to use the courtroom as a platform for a broader audience.
"I don’t know what’s going on here. I know that you want to present your case, I guess, to some audience other than the Court," Judge Upadhyaya told the three prosecutors. "I don’t want this to turn into a circus."
The judge’s frustration stemmed from the prosecution's attempt to show new video and photos of the shooting, the suspect's weapons, and the hotel crime scene. Upadhyaya ruled the display was unnecessary for the specific hearing because the defendant, Cole Tomas Allen, had already agreed to remain detained while awaiting trial.
The admonishment highlights a growing rift between the legal record and public statements made by top administration officials. While court filings from the FBI and Justice Department have been cautious in their descriptions of the shooting, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran have provided more definitive—and potentially premature—accounts in television interviews.
Director Curran stated Thursday that Allen shot an officer at "point-blank range," and Pirro told Fox News that Allen had fired directly at the agent. However, court descriptions of the event remain less certain as the investigation is only six days old.
When the judge questioned the Justice Department’s approach, prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine defended the timing of the evidence, stating, "We’re five days into this investigation. As soon as we have finalized reports and discovery... we will be doing that."
Despite being blocked from showing the evidence in open court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office posted the videos and photos to social media and added them to the formal court record shortly after the hearing concluded.
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By: CNN Newsource
May 1, 2026
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