Judge bars federal prosecutors from seeking death penalty against Luigi Mangione

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTERJanuary 30, 2026 at 04:53 PM

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A federal judge has barred prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge, citing technical flaws, which prevents the possibility of capital punishment. While a firearm charge was also dismissed, stalking charges remain, carrying a potential life sentence. The judge stated that to pursue the death penalty, prosecutors needed to prove Mangione committed the murder during another "crime of violence," which stalking does not legally qualify as. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to both federal and state murder charges, faces a state trial with a possible life sentence and a federal trial set to begin with jury selection in September. Thompson was killed in Manhattan on December 4, 2024.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Manhattan Criminal Court 30% UnitedHealth Group 40% Manhattan district attorney’s office 40% Supreme Court 40% Trump administration 50% UnitedHealthcare 60% United States attorney's office 60% Manhattan ×470% Brian Thompson ×370% Margaret Garnett ×480% Luigi Mangione ×690%

Keywords

death penalty 100% murder charge 80% luigi mangione 80% federal prosecutors 70% brian thompson 60% court ruling 50% stalking charges 50% unitedhealthcare ceo 40%

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Associated Press (AP)

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This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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death penalty murder charge luigi mangione federal prosecutors brian thompson court ruling stalking charges unitedhealthcare ceo

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