Luigi Mangione’s defense team has filed a scathing 114-page motion urging a federal judge to bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case. The lawyers argue that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s public announcement and subsequent social media campaign fatally prejudiced their client’s case before he was even formally indicted.
The defense motion, filed on Saturday, comes after Mangione scored a significant legal victory earlier this week when a New York state judge dismissed terrorism charges against him. However, he still faces second-degree murder charges in state court and federal charges that could result in execution if he’s convicted.
According to Court TV, Mangione’s attorneys claim Bondi’s decision was based on “politics, not merit” rather than legal considerations. They argue that her April announcement directing federal prosecutors to seek capital punishment, followed by Instagram posts and television appearances, violated established procedures and tainted the grand jury process that led to his indictment weeks later.
Defense challenges Bondi’s media campaign
The legal team, led by former Manhattan prosecutor Karen Friedman Agnifilo, describes Bondi’s approach as turning their client’s arrest into a “Marvel movie” spectacle. They point to what they call a highly choreographed perp walk that saw Mangione led up a Manhattan pier by armed officers, arguing these actions violated his constitutional rights.
In their court filing, the lawyers claim Bondi ordered the death penalty announcement so she would have content for her newly launched Instagram account. They argue this represents a departure from traditional Justice Department practices, where such decisions are typically made quietly through internal channels rather than public declarations.
The defense also seized on comments made by President Trump, who described Mangione as looking like a “pure assassin” during a Fox News interview. The lawyers argue such statements from high-ranking officials create an unprecedented level of prejudice against their client in a death penalty case. Questions about whether New York has the death penalty have also emerged, with legal experts noting that Mangione could only face execution if convicted on federal charges.
Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal murder charges in connection with the December 4, 2024 shooting of Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind as he arrived for his company’s annual investor conference. Police say the ammunition was inscribed with “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking phrases used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. Federal prosecutors have until October 31 to respond to the defense motion, with Mangione scheduled to return to federal court on December 5.
Published: Sep 22, 2025 01:10 pm