Luigi Mangione‘s legal professionals say AG Pam Bondi’s resolution to hunt loss of life penalty a ‘profound battle of curiosity’

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Luigi Mangione’s legal professionals contend Lawyer Common Pam Bondi’s resolution to hunt the loss of life penalty in opposition to him within the killing in New York Metropolis of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was tainted by her prior work as a lobbyist at a agency that represented the insurer’s mum or dad firm.

Bondi was a associate at Ballard Companions earlier than main the Justice Division’s cost to show Mangione’s federal prosecution right into a capital case, making a "profound battle of curiosity" that violated his due course of rights, his legal professionals wrote in a courtroom submitting late Friday. They need prosecutors barred from searching for the loss of life penalty and a few fees thrown out.

A listening to is scheduled for Jan. 9.

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Former Manhattan prosecutor Matthew Gulluzzo says Luigi Mangione’s federal fees are ‘considerably uncommon’ because the suspect within the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is already dealing with state fees. Gulluzzo explains the federal case may result in the loss of life penalty, nevertheless it may very well be a year-long course of. By involving herself within the loss of life penalty resolution and making public statements suggesting that Mangione deserves execution, Bondi broke a vow she made earlier than taking workplace in February that she would comply with moral rules and bow out of issues pertaining to Ballard purchasers for a yr, Mangione’s legal professionals stated.

They argued Bondi has continued to revenue from her work for Ballard — and, not directly, from its work for UnitedHealth Group — via a profit-sharing association with the lobbying agency and an outlined contribution plan it administers.

The "very individual" empowered to hunt Mangione’s loss of life "has a monetary stake within the case she is prosecuting," his legal professionals wrote. Her battle of curiosity "ought to have brought on her to recuse herself from making any selections on this case," they added.

Messages searching for remark have been left for the Justice Division and Ballard Companions.

Bondi introduced in April that she was directing Manhattan federal prosecutors to hunt the loss of life penalty, declaring even earlier than Mangione was formally indicted that capital punishment was warranted for a "premeditated, cold-blooded assassination."

Thompson, 50, was killed Dec. 4, 2024, as he walked to a Manhattan lodge for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor convention. Surveillance video confirmed a masked gunman capturing him from behind.

Mangione, 27, was arrested 5 days later. He has pleaded not responsible to federal and state homicide fees, with state fees carrying the potential for life in jail. Neither trial has been scheduled.

Friday’s submitting put the main focus again on Mangione’s federal case a day after a marathon pretrial listening to led to his struggle to bar prosecutors in his state case from utilizing sure proof discovered throughout his arrest, akin to a gun that police stated matched the one used to kill Thompson. A ruling isn’t anticipated till Could.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Luigi Mangione - a man in late 20s - sits at a table in a courtroom holding documents in his hands" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8e7ce8a0-39b9-4f49-b31e-d8d08fd50627,1766239878913/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2812%2C1879%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8e7ce8a0-39b9-4f49-b31e-d8d08fd50627,1766239878913/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2812%2C1879%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8e7ce8a0-39b9-4f49-b31e-d8d08fd50627,1766239878913/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2812%2C1879%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8e7ce8a0-39b9-4f49-b31e-d8d08fd50627,1766239878913/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2812%2C1879%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.4965407131452901" data-cy="image-img"/> Mangione appeared in Manhattan Felony Court docket in New York Metropolis for an proof listening to on Thursday. (Shannon Stapleton/The Related Press) Mangione’s protection group zeroed in on Bondi’s previous lobbying work as they search to persuade U.S. District Decide Margaret Garnett to rule out capital punishment, throw out some fees and exclude the identical proof they need suppressed from the state case.

In a September courtroom submitting, Mangione’s legal professionals argued that Bondi’s announcement that she was ordering prosecutors to hunt the loss of life penalty — which she adopted with Instagram posts and a TV look — confirmed the choice was "primarily based on politics, not advantage." Additionally they stated her remarks tainted the grand jury course of that resulted in his indictment a number of weeks later.

Bondi’s statements and different official actions — together with a extremely choreographed perp stroll that noticed Mangione led up a Manhattan pier by armed officers, and the Trump administration’s flouting of established loss of life penalty procedures — “have violated Mr. Mangione’s constitutional and statutory rights and have fatally prejudiced this loss of life penalty case,” his legal professionals stated.

In a courtroom submitting final month, federal prosecutors argued that “pretrial publicity, even when intense, isn't itself a constitutional defect.”

Somewhat than dismissing the case outright or barring the federal government from searching for the loss of life penalty, prosecutors argued, the protection’s issues can greatest be alleviated by fastidiously questioning potential jurors about their information of the case and guaranteeing Mangione’s rights are revered at trial.

"What the defendant recasts as a constitutional disaster is merely a repackaging of arguments" rejected in earlier instances, prosecutors stated. "None warrants dismissal of the indictment or categorical preclusion of a congressionally licensed punishment."

Mangione’s legal professionals stated they need to examine Bondi’s ties to Ballard and the agency’s relationship with UnitedHealth Group, and can ask for varied supplies, together with particulars of Bondi’s compensation from the agency, any path she’s given Justice Division workers concerning the case or UnitedHealthcare and sworn testimony from “all people with private information of the related issues.”