Overview
- In a late‑Friday federal filing, Mangione’s team alleges Attorney General Pam Bondi’s prior partnership at Ballard Partners, its work for UnitedHealth Group, and purported profit‑sharing and retirement benefits create a disqualifying conflict.
- The motion asks the court to strike the death‑penalty notice, dismiss two federal counts, and suppress evidence and statements they also challenged in the parallel state case.
- Citing a pre‑office ethics pledge, the defense notes Bondi told DOJ she would avoid matters involving Ballard or its clients for one year unless authorized, and now seeks discovery on her compensation and any directives related to the case.
- Federal prosecutors have argued in earlier filings that even intense publicity is not a constitutional defect and oppose dismissing the indictment or categorically barring capital punishment.
- U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett set a Jan. 9 hearing on the federal motions, while a separate state‑court suppression ruling is expected in May following a three‑week hearing.