US federal prosecutors have been directed to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson.
Mangione, 26, is facing state and federal charges for the alleged murder on a Manhattan street in December last year. He is scheduled to go on trial first on murder charges in New York state — which has not executed a convicted felon in over 60 years.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges and has yet to enter a plea on the federal charges.
On Wednesday (local time), the US Department of Justice confirmed Attorney-General Pam Bondi has directed Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky to seek the death penalty.
It would mark the first time the department has decided to seek the death penalty during President Donald Trump’s second term.
“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” Bondi said in a statement.
“After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Per the statement, the murder was “an act of political violence” and the actions “involved substantial planning and premeditation”.
Moreover, the incident took place in a public area with bystanders nearby, there may have posed grave risk to additional persons, it noted.
His attorney Karen Friedly Agnifilo has called out the Justice Department’s “barbaric” decision, which she said goes against the recommendation of local federal prosecutors and historical precedent.
“While claiming to protect against murder, the federal government moves to commit the premeditated, state-sponsored murder of Luigi,” Friedman Agnifilo said, per Reuters.
“By doing this, they are defending the broken, immoral, and murderous healthcare industry that continues to terrorise the American people.”
Mangione had become a “trophy” in a “high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors”, she said, and previously complained prosecutors had unfairly leaked material from a “manifesto” to portray her client as a terrorist in court filings last month.
After a five-day manhunt that took social media by storm, Mangione was arrested last year on December 9, 2024 for the alleged killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson on December 4. He was apprehended from a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where he was reportedly found with a gun, a silencer, four fake IDs and other items authorities claimed were “consistent” with what investigators were in search for.
At the scene of the crime, authorities also found ammunition casings with the words “deny”, “defend” and “depose” — which rings similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” used by lawyers to refer to the tactics used by insurance companies to allegedly avoid paying out claims to their customers.
Mangione made his first public statement in February since his arrest on his new website launched by his legal team.
The website was due to the “extraordinary volumes of inquiries and outpouring of support,” towards Mangione, they explained.
The homepage features Mangione’s statement which reads: “I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written [to] me to share their stories and express their support.
“Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded [the Metropolitan Detention Centre] from across the country, and around the globe.
“While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive.
“Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future.”
Per ABC News, Mangione is scheduled to reappear in a federal court on April 18 although no trial date has been set.
Lead image: Getty
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