Judge Rebukes DOJ; Lawyers Seek Death Penalty Bar

Luigi Mangione, who pleaded not guilty to the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and faces federal death-penalty and other charges, says statements by President Trump and administration officials have prejudiced his right to a fair trial after the recent murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His lawyers have filed motions seeking to bar the death-penalty prosecution or to dismiss aspects of the federal case, arguing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s public comments and the government’s media handling politicized and tainted the proceedings. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett rebuked the Justice Department, finding that reposts by senior DOJ staff appear to violate a prior court gag order and Local Criminal Rule 23.1, and she ordered prosecutors to explain how the prohibited comments occurred. The judge warned that future violations could lead to sanctions, including personal fines, contempt findings, or relief tied to the prosecution, and directed the Deputy Attorney General to circulate a department-wide warning. The court cited examples including a Fox News clip of President Trump saying Mangione “shot someone in the back” that was shared by a White House account and reposted by DOJ public-affairs officials, and a White House press secretary calling Mangione a “left-wing assassin.”