Lawyers for Luigi Mangione ask the judge to stop the death sentence for the murder of the insurance CEO
Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded with a federal judge in New York on Saturday to prevent prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty for their client.
Mangione’s attorneys contended in a court document that activities that had infringed upon his due process rights should prevent U.S. Justice Department authorities from pursuing the death penalty. They said that he was “staging a dehumanizing, unconstitutional ‘perp walk’ where he was televised, videotaped and photographed clambering out of a helicopter in shackles on his way to his initial appearance.”
“Because of the blatant, intentional and damaging nature of this torrent of prejudice from multiple public officials, mainly the United States Attorney General, from the inception of this case through the grand jury vote on April 17, 2025, the death penalty indictment against Mr. Mangione must be dismissed,” the motion read.
Mangione entered a not guilty plea in connection with Thompson’s shooting death on December 4, which occurred during the opening of UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH.N) new tab insurance unit. Executives from the company were attending an investment conference at a hotel in Midtown Manhattan when Thompson was shot and killed.
Although many Americans sympathized with Mangione, 27, and expressed their displeasure with the high expense of healthcare in the United States and the ability of health insurers to deny payment for certain treatments, public figures denounced the killing.
Since Thompson’s death, there has been increased concern about the rise in political violence in the United States, particularly in light of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
If Mangione is found guilty, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office prosecutors have until October 31 to make the case that the death sentence should remain an option. He is accused of murder and interstate stalking.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett is in charge of the case. In her April 1 request for Mangione’s execution, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described Thompson’s death as “a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
Mangione’s attorneys have referred to that announcement as “unapologetically,” claiming that prosecutors violated standard procedure by failing to launch a thorough investigation or provide defense attorneys an opportunity to protest.
Garnett has stated that she may schedule a trial date for 2026 when Mangione appears in federal court again on December 5.
The same jury would decide whether to execute Mangione if Garnett permits the death sentence and he is found guilty of murder.
Mangione is also charged with nine state-level offenses, including murder. Gregory Carro, a state judge in New York, rejected two terrorist charges against Mangione on Tuesday.
Although the death sentence in New York was ruled unconstitutional in 2004, the prohibition only applies in state, not federal, proceedings.
If found guilty in his state case, Mangione could spend up to life behind bars. No trial date has been set, and the next hearing is due for December 1.
