Mangione's Defense Claims Bondi's Death Penalty Bid Is Political Stunt

Luigi Mangione's attorneys have filed a motion in federal court to block the government from seeking the death penalty in his case, arguing that Attorney General Pam Bondi's directive is politically motivated rather than based on legal merits. They claim her public announcements about the case, including leveraging social media for publicity, violate established Justice Department protocols and could prejudice the grand jury pool. Bondi had stated that pursuing the death penalty aligns with fulfilling President Trump's agenda on violent crime, which Mangione's lawyers argue undermines due process. They highlighted that the timing of Bondi's announcements was strategically aligned with the launch of her Instagram account, raising concerns over her motivations. Mangione, charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, remains in federal custody as he faces both federal and state charges but has not yet been indicted federally. His legal team insists that the case is being treated as a high-stakes political game rather than a judicial process focused on justice.