(Bloomberg) – Luigi Mangione’s lawyers demanded a court order that prohibit federal prosecutors from seeking death penalty for alleged murder of UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson, who said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi seeks to execute “political stunts.”
Bondi issued a press release on April 1 saying she had directed Manhattan federal prosecutors to commit a death penalty for Mangione for committing a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.” She also said the move was part of President Donald Trump’s “an agenda to stop violent crime and make the United States safe again.” ”
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said in court Friday that Bundy’s statement violated an established agreement seeking the federal death penalty, and her invocation of Trump’s agenda made it clear that her decision was based on politics rather than law.
“The bet won’t be higher,” said Friedman Agnifilo. “The U.S. government intends to kill Mr. Mangion as a political stunt.”
Mangione, 26, is charged with fatal shooting of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in Midtown Manhattan before fleeing and touching a raid that ends with his arrest at McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. For those who many say he expresses his anger in the health care system, Mangen is known as a folk hero.
Mangione was indicted in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office after his arrest in December. He is also charged with suspected federal criminal proceedings.
Friedman Agnifilo said Friday that the existence of the state case “destroys federal interests in the death penalty.” She said Bondy’s statement was also posted on Instagram, which could contaminate the jury in two situations.
Defense attorneys noted that Trump’s Justice Department decisions were essentially political, including dismissing allegations of corruption against New York Mayor Eric Adams, expelling an El Salvadorian despite ordering dismissal and issuing execution orders against major U.S. law firms.
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