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Prosecutors Urge Judge to Keep Death Penalty Option in Mangione Case

Prosecutors say public remarks by senior officials show no prejudice to the case.

Overview

  • In a 121-page filing, the U.S. attorney’s office asked the judge to deny defense motions to dismiss the indictment and to categorically bar capital punishment.
  • The government argued that comments by Attorney General Pam Bondi and the President do not establish actual prejudice to the grand jury or trial.
  • Prosecutors said they complied with the Justice Department’s Capital Case Protocol and characterized the Attorney General’s death-penalty decision as an exercise of prosecutorial discretion not subject to judicial review.
  • They opposed suppressing arrest evidence, asserting officers lawfully searched a backpack for safety and that Mangione’s initial statements were voluntary, with plans to use only his false name given to police.
  • Key dates include a Dec. 1 state suppression hearing and a Jan. 9 federal appearance, following a September ruling that threw out state terrorism counts but left a murder charge.