Luigi Mangione has officially entered a guilty plea to murder charges in connection with the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
As the trial approaches, the presiding judge issued a pointed warning to the attorneys involved. Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson on December 4 while the CEO was entering the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Authorities arrested Mangione five days later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. He now faces charges of murder with a firearm, two counts of stalking, and additional firearms offenses.
Earlier this month, U.S.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Justice Department would pursue the death penalty if Mangione is convicted. “Luigi Mangione’s deliberate, cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson — a father of two — stunned the nation. After thorough review, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty as part of President Trump’s mission to combat violent crime and Make America Safe Again,” Bondi said in a statement.
However, Bondi’s remarks sparked controversy.
In an April 11 court filing, Mangione’s defense team requested that Judge Margaret Garnett bar prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty, arguing that Bondi’s public comments had tainted the potential jury pool and undermined Mangione’s right to a fair trial. In response, Judge Garnett issued a firm warning to Bondi and interim Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, instructing them to limit public comments that could interfere with the defendant’s right to an impartial trial.
“I’m directing the government to communicate this directive to Mr. Clayton and ask that he relay it to Attorney General Bondi and her team at the Justice Department,” Garnett stated, according to reports.
Given the high-profile nature of the case, Judge Garnett appears committed to ensuring Mangione receives a fair trial.
