A New York federal judge has removed murder and weapons charges punishable by death against Luigi Mangione, effectively barring prosecutors from seeking capital punishment in the case involving the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. District Judge Margaret Garnett issued the ruling on Friday in Manhattan federal court, according to reports.
This ruling directly counters the directive issued by the administration of President Donald Trump, which had publicly committed to pursuing the death penalty for what it termed a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.” The judge who made the decision was appointed by former President Joe Biden, setting a notable contrast in judicial approach.
Despite the dismissal of the death-eligible federal counts, the twenty-seven-year-old faces two federal stalking charges that could result in a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Furthermore, Mangione is still subject to separate state-level murder charges in Manhattan, which also carry a potential life sentence.
Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in December 2024 while en route to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a masked gunman firing from behind, with recovered ammunition allegedly inscribed with the phrase “delay,” “deny,” and “depose”—a reference to insurance claim avoidance tactics.
Federal jury selection for the remaining charges is currently scheduled to commence on September 8. Meanwhile, the state trial remains unscheduled, though the Manhattan district attorney’s office recently requested a July 1 start date for those proceedings.
The decision by Judge Garnett complicates the federal government’s strategy, as Attorney General Pam Bondi had ordered federal prosecutors last April to pursue capital punishment against Mangione. This action followed President Trump’s stated commitment to resume federal executions following a pause under the previous administration.
Mangione, described as an Ivy League-educated individual from a prominent Maryland family, previously entered not guilty pleas to all initial federal and state allegations, including forgery, weapons possession, and murder.
