“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,” Bondi said in an April 1 statement.
“After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President [Donald] Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Mangione, 26, is charged in both federal and state courts for the Dec. 4, 2024, killing, which took place on a Manhattan sidewalk outside a hotel where Thompson was heading to an investor conference.
Mangione faces federal charges, including murder through the use of a firearm, which makes him eligible for the death penalty. The state charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Authorities say Mangione was arrested five days after the shooting while eating breakfast at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was allegedly in possession of a firearm matching the one used in the killing, a fake ID, and a notebook filled with anti-health insurance sentiments and references to targeting executives.
Among the writings in the notebook were entries dating back to August 2024, in which Mangione allegedly identified the health insurance industry as a “target,” and in October, he allegedly wrote of plans to “wack” a CEO.
The case has drawn national attention for its combination of political overtones, public violence, and the high-profile victim. Thompson, 50, was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the United States. The company has said Mangione had no affiliation with it.
Bondi’s directive aligns with what she said was her broader policy shift outlined in her Day One memo, titled “Reviving the Federal Death Penalty and Lifting the Moratorium on Federal Executions,” which reversed a Biden-era pause on capital punishment.
Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20, directing the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty in federal cases when applicable.
It remains unclear whether Bondi’s announcement will alter the trial timeline. Prosecutors have indicated that the state case will proceed first, with the federal charges moving forward on a separate track.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges and has not yet entered a plea on the federal counts.
The Justice Department said acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky will oversee the federal prosecution.
Attorneys for Mangione did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times before publication time.
