Solitary Confinement Challenged
Capital Jewish Museum Suspect Elias Rodriguez Returns to Court; Defense Challenges Solitary Confinement
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Elias Rodriguez, the 31-year-old Chicago man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers outside Washington's Capital Jewish Museum, appeared in court again as his case inches toward a potential death penalty trial. Rodriguez has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest in May 2025, and no trial date has been set, according to WBTV and Hawaii News Now.
The case carries enormous weight. Rodriguez faces 13 counts, including four terrorism-related charges, in a superseding indictment. The Department of Justice filed a formal notice in May 2026 to seek the death penalty against him.
Defense Fights Solitary Confinement and Evidence Access
Rodriguez's lawyers want him moved out of solitary confinement. They say the isolation makes it nearly impossible to meet with him and prepare his defense, according to WSMV and KCTV5. The defense also asked the court to give Rodriguez a laptop so he can review evidence on his own.
The reason for the laptop request is staggering in scale. The government has produced over 1.5 million pages of digital discovery. That includes social media chat logs and footage from a body camera Rodriguez allegedly wore during the attack, WEAU reported. Defense attorney Diane Shrewsbury called the volume of material "enormous."
A Planned Attack Captured on the Shooter's Own Camera
The shooting happened on May 21, 2025, at 9:08 PM. Rodriguez allegedly fired at least 21 rounds at Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, as they left a Young Diplomats Reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The couple worked for the Israeli Embassy and were about to get engaged, according to 21Alive News.
Rodriguez had traveled from Chicago to Washington specifically for the attack. He declared his gun in checked luggage on a United Airlines flight. Before shooting, he posted a manifesto titled "Escalate for Gaza, Bring the Way Home" online. After the shooting, he walked into the museum and surrendered, shouting "Free, free Palestine," according to WILX and WDAM.
Charges Grew From Murder to Terrorism Over Months
Rodriguez was first charged with murder of foreign officials in May 2025. In August, a grand jury added hate crime charges, saying the victims were targeted because of their national origin. By February 2026, a superseding indictment added terrorism offenses and cited "substantial planning and premeditation" as an aggravating factor, according to KKTV and Fox10.
Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to all charges in March 2026. The court labeled the case "complex." U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss is presiding. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at the outset: "Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation's capital," according to MySuncoast and Alaska's News Source.
Death Penalty Looms as Trial Timeline Remains Unclear
The DOJ's May 2026 death penalty notice makes this one of the most high-profile federal capital cases in Washington in decades. D.C. itself has no local death penalty, but federal law applies here. Legal analysts note this raises complex constitutional questions about applying the federal death penalty in the district, according to KALB and AZ Family.
For now, the court is focused on managing discovery and ruling on the defense's recent motions. No trial date has been scheduled. Sarah Milgrim's brother, Jacob, told CBS News: "What does it accomplish taking my sister from me? It's not going to accomplish anything." The case is expected to remain in pretrial proceedings well into 2026, reported WBBJTV.
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