Luigi Mangione's Defense Attorneys Move To Block Death Penalty

Luigi Mangione's lawyers are doing their best to prevent the Justice Department from pursuing a death penalty against him.

Mangione has been charged for the murder of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson.

Earlier this month, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that she had directed federal prosecutors to seek a death penalty for Mangione, prompting wild reactions among netizens.

On Friday, Mangione's lawyers filed a motion in the federal District Court in Lower Manhattan, asking the judge to prevent federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty for their client.

The lawyers argued Pam Bondi's decision to seek capital punishment for Mangione is "political, arbitrary, capricious," and "a breach of established death penalty protocol."

They added that the Attorney General's move "has now indelibly prejudiced this process."

Per PEOPLE Magazine, the lawyers also wrote in the filing, "The stakes could not be higher. The United States government intends to kill Mr. Mangione as a political stunt."

On April 1, Bondi released a statement in which she revealed her plans to pursue capital punishment for Mangione if he is found guilty of his charges.

She said, "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 added, "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."

After news of Bondi's statement went viral, several netizens shared their thoughts on social media, with many condemning the move.

One person said, "They are violating his [Mangione's] rights because they want to maintain capitalism."

Another person described the move as a "scare tactic," adding, "They're pushing this to make an example out of him. They want us supporters and him being scared. They want us and him to crash out. It's gonna backfire in their face in the end."

A third X user asked, "Yet they pardoned the January 6 rioters who killed a cop?"

Another person opined, "So a cop can kill innocent people and just gets off with it and then we have to hear how hard it is on their mental health but someone kills a CEO who is ripping people off and they give him the death penalty. Joke of a country."

A fifth X user wrote, "Tragic all around, but let's not ignore the deeper issue. Luigi Mangione's actions, while extreme and unjustifiable, shine a harsh light on a broken healthcare system where profit often trumps patient care. This case should be a wake-up call for reform, not just punishment."

Bondi's statement marked one of the present administration's earliest steps toward reinstating the death penalty, following an executive order President Donald Trump signed shortly after taking office in January.

The directive instructed the attorney general to "pursue the death penalty for all crimes of a severity demanding its use."

In the order, Trump argued that reviving capital punishment was crucial for delivering justice and ensuring public safety.

He also overturned former President Biden's moratorium on federal executions and criticized Biden’s decision to commute 37 death row sentences.

The order facilitated states' access to lethal injection drugs, called for the reversal of Supreme Court decisions that had limited the use of capital punishment, and imposed stricter prison conditions for violent offenders.

It further emphasized the importance of prosecuting violent crimes and enhancing coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Luigi Mangione was arrested on December 9, 2024, at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer tip linked him to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

On December 23, 2024, Mangione pleaded not guilty to murder and terrorism charges in a New York court.

He faces 11 state charges, including first-degree murder and murder as an act of terrorism—both carrying a mandatory life sentence without parole if convicted.

Federal prosecutors have also charged him with using a firearm to commit murder and interstate stalking resulting in death, offenses eligible for the death penalty.

Authorities claim Mangione fatally shot Thompson in Manhattan before fleeing.

State and federal cases will proceed simultaneously.