Alleged Bondi conflict could affect Mangione death-penalty case, defense says

A defense motion in the Mangione case argues that a misstep by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi could derail the death-penalty bid in the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione's lawyers say Bondi allowed a profound conflict of interest to influence charging decisions because she previously worked as a lobbyist at Ballard Partners, the firm that represented UnitedHealth Group's parent company.

The filing contends Bondi should have recused herself from the case and, if necessary, the matter should have been reassigned to a special prosecutor. The defense asserts Bondi continues to profit from Ballard, directly or indirectly, through a profit-sharing arrangement and a defined-contribution plan it administers for clients, including Ballard's work for UnitedHealth Group. The motion seeks to compel the prosecutors to produce materials detailing Bondi's compensation from Ballard and any directions she gave to Justice Department staff regarding the case or UnitedHealthcare, along with sworn testimony from individuals with knowledge of the relevant matters. Bondi announced in April that she was directing prosecutors to seek the death penalty and said the killing met the threshold for capital punishment, a stance the defense says violated ethical obligations and could have tainted the grand jury process that indicted Mangione.

Brian Thompson, 50, was killed December 4, 2024, as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group's annual investor conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman firing from behind. Mangione, 27, was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after patrons recognized him and alerted staff. The crime drew national attention and elevated Mangione to a figure of public interest as prosecutors pursued a combined state and federal case that carries potential life terms in state court and a possible death sentence in federal court.

In their Friday filing, Mangione's lawyers seek to bar the government from pursuing the death penalty in the federal case, drop two federal charges, and suppress certain evidence obtained during the arrest, including a gun that investigators say matched the weapon used in the shooting and a notebook that purportedly described Mangione's intent to harm a health-insurance executive. They argue that the use of such evidence in state proceedings could be prejudicial and that its exclusion is necessary to protect Mangione's rights. The defense also argues that the Massachusetts-style public statements surrounding the case—Bondi’s remarks and a highly choreographed perp walk—unduly tainted proceedings and prejudiced jurors.

Prosecutors have responded that pretrial publicity, even when intense, is not a constitutional defect. They contend any concerns can be addressed through careful juror questioning and ensuring Mangione’s rights are protected at trial, rather than dismissing the indictment or barring the use of a capital punishment sentence. They note that a ruling on the defense’s motions is not expected until May.

Bondi’s past leadership at Ballard Partners and her role in directing the Justice Department’s decision to seek capital punishment for Mangione have become central to the defense’s strategy. The filing argues that her ties to Ballard—coupled with publicly charged statements about the case—reflect conflicts that should have triggered recusal and perhaps a special prosecutor. The defense maintains that such conduct could infringe Mangione’s constitutional and statutory rights and prejudge the outcome of both the state and federal cases.

As of now, neither the state murder charges nor the federal capital-case charges have scheduled trial dates. The case continues to unfold through motions and pretrial proceedings, with Mangione disputing the charges against him and prosecutors maintaining their position that the evidence supports both prosecutions. The court’s handling of the defense motions and any potential recusal decision will shape the trajectory of Mangione’s two-track prosecution in the coming months.