Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, have filed a motion to block the death penalty in his case. They argue that the directive to seek capital punishment was a political stunt orchestrated by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The attorneys claim that Bondi’s comments indicating that prosecutors would fulfill President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime influenced the decision to seek the death penalty. Mangione is accused of targeting and killing Thompson in an ambush shooting in Manhattan. He faces federal charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison or death, as well as state charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism. The defense attorneys also argue that proper procedures have not been followed in preparing for the case. They claim they were ignored when they requested time to prepare a mitigation submission and cite Bondi’s prejudicial public statements as potentially impacting the grand jury process. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice have yet to respond to requests for comment. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges and has not entered a plea in the federal case, which is set to proceed after the state case.
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