URGENT UPDATE: Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing accusations of a significant conflict of interest in the federal murder trial of Luigi Mangione, who is charged with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione’s defense team claims Bondi should have recused herself due to her past ties with Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm that continues to represent UnitedHealthcare.
Late Friday, Mangione’s attorneys filed a motion arguing that Bondi’s financial connections to Ballard Partners compromise the integrity of the proceedings. They contend that any criminal defendant, especially one facing the death penalty, deserves a trial free from the influence of the prosecutor’s financial interests.
Mangione, 27, is accused of shooting Thompson, 50, in midtown Manhattan last December. He was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges.
The husband-and-wife defense team, Karen and Marc Agnifilo, emphasize the urgency of the situation, stating, “the Attorney General took the remarkable and unprecedented step of personally and publicly ordering line prosecutors to seek the death penalty against the man accused of killing UHC’s CEO.” They are requesting that prosecutors be barred from pursuing the death penalty, two charges be dismissed, and evidence obtained at the time of arrest be thrown out.
A hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett to address these critical motions. This latest filing comes on the heels of a lengthy pretrial suppression hearing in New York State, where Mangione’s legal team sought to suppress statements made during his arrest and evidence found in his backpack, which included a gun and a silencer. A ruling on this matter is anticipated by May 18, 2024.
Federal prosecutors have defended their decision to seek the death penalty, asserting that publicity is common in high-profile cases in the Southern District of New York. In an earlier statement, Judge Garnett instructed Bondi not to make public comments about the case to preserve the fairness of the trial.
Mangione’s defense argues that Bondi’s connections to Ballard Partners, which continues to lobby for UnitedHealthcare, directly violate his due process rights. As the case unfolds, the implications of these allegations could significantly impact the trial’s outcome and the pursuit of justice for both the accused and the victim’s family.
This developing story continues to attract attention as legal experts and the public await the January hearing. NBC News has reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York and to Bondi for comments regarding this urgent situation. Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge in this high-stakes case.
