Luigi Mangione's Defense Asks Judge To Block Federal Death Penalty

Luigi Mangione's legal team has requested a federal judge to prevent the Justice Department from pursuing the death penalty in his case. Mangione is accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan last year. His lawyers argue that the decision to seek the death penalty is a "political stunt" and claim that Attorney General Pam Bondi's public statements have tainted the grand jury pool.

Earlier this month, Bondi announced the decision to pursue the death penalty, aligning with President Donald Trump's campaign promise to resume federal executions. Mangione's attorneys argue that the Justice Department violated protocols and Mangione's due process. They also claim they were denied adequate time to prepare a comprehensive mitigation submission to the Department of Justice's Capital Committee.

Mangione, 26, faces both state and federal murder charges. He has pleaded not guilty to the state charges, and while charged in a federal criminal complaint, he has yet to be indicted on federal charges. One of these charges, murder through the use of a firearm, carries a potential death sentence if convicted.

Since Bondi's announcement, Mangione's legal defense fund has received over $850,000 in donations, with many citing opposition to the death penalty decision. Mangione's lawyers contend that the decision was influenced by political motives rather than the specifics of the case.