Mangione death-penalty bid renewed over Bondi conflict of interest

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione renewed and expanded their bid to have the federal death penalty charge tossed out in his Manhattan case, arguing Attorney General Pam Bondi has a disqualifying financial conflict of interest.

In court filings reviewed by Fox News Digital, the defense argued Bondi’s calls for the death penalty following Mangione’s arrest were improper because she was previously a partner at Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm that represented UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of slain CEO Brian Thompson. The filing contends Bondi continues to receive financial benefits through Ballard’s profit‑sharing plan and should have recused herself from any role in the case. "Her failure to do so clearly violated the due process rights of Mr. Mangione and provides yet another reason why the Notice of Intent should be stricken," the filing states. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Bondi announced in April that she was directing Manhattan federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty, declaring even before Mangione was formally indicted that capital punishment was warranted for what she called a "premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America." The defense notes Bondi publicly described the case in a manner that, they say, prejudged guilt, and argues that Bondi’s post publicly directing prosecutors to seek capital punishment creates appearance of political influence rather than an independent DOJ review. "The Attorney General personally directed line prosecutors to seek the death penalty in a public press release delivered via social media and then appeared on national television to claim that, based on her own experience as a capital crimes prosecutor, Mr. Mangione deserved to be executed," the filing says. "This is a bell that can never be rung again." Bondi’s move followed her departure from Ballard Partners to become attorney general in 2025, the filing notes, and, according to the defense, Bondi personally selected Mangione as the first defendant for capital punishment while at the agency.

Mangione’s lawyers also argued that when Bondi left Ballard Partners to assume the role of attorney general in 2025, she was the first public official to publicly call for capital punishment in Mangione’s case, which the defense says is another basis to question impartiality. They asserted that Bondi’s ongoing financial ties to Ballard’s profit‑sharing arrangement amount to a disqualifying financial conflict and that she should have recused herself from any related matters.

Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel during an investor conference. Prosecutors say the execution-style shooting was motivated by financial and corporate grievances; Mangione fled the scene but was captured days later. The case has included battles over evidentiary issues and whether the underlying stalking charge qualifies as a violent crime, with defense motions challenging the government’s pursuit of the death penalty on multiple grounds.

The defense has long contended that the decision to seek the death penalty was political and prejudicial rather than the product of a neutral DOJ review. In early 2025, they moved to block the death penalty overall and later filed a more detailed April motion seeking to strike the death-penalty‑eligible counts, before focusing on the alleged financial conflict tied to Bondi.

Mangione is represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a prominent New York defense attorney who formerly prosecuted in Manhattan and was a legal analyst for CNN. The Justice Department did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tip lines and tips can be sent to michael.dorgan@fox.com, and reporters can follow the coverage for further updates on the Jan. 9 hearing. This report is part of ongoing coverage of the Mangione case in federal court in Manhattan.