Federal prosecutors say Attorney General Pam Bondi’s support for the death penalty won’t block Luigi Mangione’s federal murder trial.

Federal prosecutors argue that Attorney General Pam Bondi's public support for the death penalty in Luigi Mangione's case should not block federal prosecution or exclude capital punishment. In a 121-page filing, they urge Judge Margaret Garnett to reject defense motions to dismiss charges or suppress evidence, asserting that pretrial publicity, including Bondi's comments and a high-profile arrest, does not violate constitutional rights. Prosecutors maintain that a 9 mm handgun, a threatening notebook, and Mangione's statements were lawfully obtained, citing officer safety for the backpack search and voluntary statements, with no evidence of juror bias or grand jury misconduct. Mangione, 27, pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges in the December 4, 2024, killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, where surveillance showed a masked gunman using ammunition marked "delay," "deny," and "depose." He was arrested five days later in Pennsylvania, with the next federal hearing set for January 9 and the state case for December 1.