Overview
- In a late-night filing, Luigi Mangione’s lawyers argue Attorney General Pam Bondi should have recused because she previously worked at Ballard Partners, which lists UnitedHealth Group as a client, and they say she still benefits from the firm through profit-sharing and a retirement plan.
- The defense seeks to strike the notice to pursue capital punishment, dismiss two federal counts, and suppress evidence and statements they contend were illegally obtained, including a backpack search and remarks allegedly made without Miranda warnings.
- Bondi publicly directed Manhattan federal prosecutors in April to seek the death penalty, prompting earlier judicial warnings to limit comments, while prosecutors counter that publicity alone does not warrant dismissing charges or precluding capital punishment.
- U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett has scheduled a federal hearing for Jan. 9 on the conflict-of-interest and related motions; the Justice Department and Ballard Partners did not immediately comment.
- A separate state-court suppression hearing concluded this week, with Judge Gregory Carro expecting a May 18 ruling; Mangione has pleaded not guilty after his Dec. 9, 2024 arrest in Pennsylvania in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.