Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are opposing the Trump administration's request for the death penalty. In recent court documents, they said that the actions of Attorney General Pam Bondi were politically motivated, and pointed out that the government did not follow due process for capital punishment cases.
Bondi has ordered federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty, calling the killing political violence, and saying Mangione's actions could lead to additional deaths. Bondi said the crime is a serious threat to public safety and is connected to Trump's agenda to end violence and ensure safety.
Mangione's legal team insisted that Bondi's decision was unjust and called it biased. They demanded that all communications regarding the death penalty issue be turned over to them, and accused Bondi of mishandling the case.
The killing occurred on December 4, when Mangione followed Thompson, shot him multiple times in New York, and fled. Mangione was captured in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after receiving a tip from a McDonald's worker.
