A judge ruled on Friday that federal prosecutors are not allowed to pursue the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the case involving the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The judge’s decision thwarted the Trump administration’s efforts to have Mangione executed for what was described as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Mangione, stating that it was technically flawed. This ruling was made in order to prevent the death penalty from being considered as a potential punishment by the jury during Mangione’s trial.
Although Garnett dismissed a gun charge, stalking charges that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison were left in place. Prosecutors needed to demonstrate that Mangione committed another “crime of violence” while killing Thompson to be eligible for the death penalty. However, Garnett noted that stalking did not meet this legal requirement based on case law and legal precedents.
In a favorable outcome for prosecutors, Garnett allowed the use of evidence obtained from Mangione’s backpack during his arrest, which included a 9-mm handgun and a notebook containing his alleged intentions to harm an insurance executive.
Mangione’s defense team had attempted to exclude this evidence, arguing that the search was unlawful as police had not obtained a warrant at the time.
The judge’s rulings could be subject to appeals. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, handling the federal case, was contacted for comment but did not immediately respond.
Garnett acknowledged that her decision might seem unconventional to many, but emphasized that her primary concern was to adhere to the Supreme Court’s directives in this case, regardless of how it may be perceived.
Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty, appeared composed during a scheduled hearing following the judge’s ruling. His trial is set to begin with jury selection on September 8, followed by opening statements and testimony starting on October 13. The trial for state charges has not yet been scheduled.
Thompson was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, while heading to a hotel in midtown Manhattan for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. The assailant, captured on surveillance footage, wore a mask and shot Thompson from behind. The bullets were inscribed with the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose,” echoing a phrase associated with insurance claims practices.
Mangione, a graduate from an affluent Maryland family, was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after the incident.
Following former President Donald Trump’s directive to resume federal executions, Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Mangione. This decision marked the first instance of the Justice Department pursuing capital punishment in Trump’s second term.
Garnett’s ruling came after extensive legal arguments from both the prosecution and defense. Mangione’s lawyers contended that Bondi’s order to seek the death penalty was politically motivated and violated established Justice Department protocols.
Prosecutors, on the other hand, defended the death penalty as a legal option in this case and argued that the defense’s objections could be addressed by carefully screening potential jurors and ensuring a fair trial for Mangione.
The case has generated significant public interest and controversy, with supporters of Mangione rallying outside the federal court in Manhattan.