Overview
- Defense lawyers filed a late-Friday motion arguing Attorney General Pam Bondi should have recused because of her prior partnership at Ballard Partners, which represents UnitedHealth Group, the parent of the victim’s company.
- They say Bondi violated an ethics pledge to avoid matters involving Ballard clients for one year and allege ongoing financial ties to the firm through profit-sharing and a defined contribution plan.
- The motion asks the court to bar the death penalty, dismiss certain counts, and suppress evidence including items taken from a backpack and statements the defense says preceded Miranda warnings.
- Prosecutors have defended the capital decision in prior filings and argue that even intense pretrial publicity does not warrant dismissal or categorical limits on punishment.
- A federal hearing is set for Jan. 9, following a three-week state suppression hearing that just concluded, with a ruling in the state case not expected until May.