Luigi Mangione could be spared death penalty thanks to US attorney general ‘mistake’

Pam Bondi may have forced a conflict of interest

Lawyers of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of shooting dead UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December, say that a conflict of interest should lead to Mangione being spared the death penalty.

A notice was filed officially by federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Mangione last April, however, calls have been raised by his lawyers to throw out this punishment on the grounds of a conflict of interest.

This comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi previously told prosecutors in Manhattan to seek the death penalty, describing the shooting a "premeditated, cold-blooded assassination".

However, these comments are now potentially set to be used against her, as the defence argue that her involvement and claims for the death penalty may violate ethical rules and lead to a conflict of interest, as per court filings reviewed by Fox News.

ABC News reported that the court filings read: "When Ms. Bondi left Ballard Partners to become the Attorney General in 2025, the very first defendant she personally selected to be executed was the man accused of killing the CEO of her former client.

“The Attorney General’s financial connection to UHG represents a conflict of interest that should have caused her to recuse herself from making any decisions on this case."

The US Department of Justice describes the role of attorney general as follows:

"The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested.

"In matters of exceptional gravity or importance the Attorney General appears in person before the Supreme Court."

Mangione was arrested on 9 December 2024 in a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, just five days after the shooting took place.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.