Attorney General Pam Bondi has instructed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson during a conference in Manhattan last year. This case marks the first time the Justice Department has pursued capital punishment under the Trump administration.
Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania days after the high-profile killing, which stunned the business and political communities alike. Prosecutors say Mangione targeted Thompson due to deep hostility toward the health insurance industry. A notebook recovered after his arrest allegedly contained entries pointing to a premeditated plot against the company and its leadership. UnitedHealthcare confirmed that Mangione was never a client.
Bondi released a powerful statement alongside the announcement: “Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Mangione faces both federal and state charges, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism. The Justice Department's pursuit of the death penalty signals a tough-on-crime stance and could set the tone for future capital prosecutions under the Trump administration.