Mangione asks court to block Bondi from seeking death penalty in case of conviction

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, asked a federal judge in New York on Friday to block Attorney General Pam Bondi from seeking the death penalty if their client is convicted. 

Bondi directed federal prosecutors last week to seek the death penalty if Mangione is convicted, in order to carry out President Donald Trump's agenda to "stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again."

Mangione's legal team argued that the attorney general violated their client's rights to due process, and compromised the grand jury process by allegedly planning to kill Mangione as a "political stunt," The Hill reported.

“We appreciate, and will address, the province and discretion of the Executive Branch of government, and how, in the usual course, courts defer to the Executive’s established procedures,” the lawyers wrote. “But the Attorney General’s actions and public statements in this case have not followed the usual course. 

“Because the Attorney General has chosen to proceed in this way, Mr. Mangione’s Due Process rights have already been violated and the manner in which the Government has acted has prejudiced the grand jury pool and has corrupted the grand jury process," they added.

Mangione was charged by federal prosecutors with stalking and murdering Thompson in New York City last December. He also faces state-level charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism in connection with the Dec. 4, 2024 killing.

The 26-year-old could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted of murder through use of a firearm. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.