Federal prosecutors are searching for the demise penalty towards the person accused of fatally capturing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outdoors a Manhattan lodge on 4 December, US lawyer normal Pam Bondi mentioned on Tuesday.
Bondi mentioned in a press launch that she’s “directed federal prosecutors to hunt the demise penalty” for Luigi Mangione, 26, as a result of he allegedly dedicated “a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America”. The transfer, Bondi notes, is in an effort to “perform President Trump’s agenda to cease violent crime and Make America Secure Once more”.
Prosecutors say Mangione had a spiral pocket book through which he expressed hostility towards the medical insurance trade and rich executives. UnitedHealthcare is the biggest well being insurer within the US, although the corporate has mentioned Mangione was by no means a consumer.
Among the many entries, the grievance mentioned, was one from August 2024 that mentioned “the goal is insurance coverage” as a result of “it checks each field” and one from October that describes an intent to “wack” an insurance coverage firm CEO.
Mangione is going through each state and federal expenses in reference to Thompson’s killing. He has pleaded not responsible to the state expenses and has not entered a plea to the federal ones.
The utmost punishment on the state expenses is life in jail.
Writings and phrases on bullets recovered from the scene mirrored Mangione’s alleged hostility towards well being insurers and company America.
The incident reignited debates about the US’s healthcare system and incited controversy on social media, the place many have expressed assist for the Mangione. Whereas personal insurers report billions in income yearly, many sufferers and medical doctors are struggling to navigate a posh monetary system to get what they want.
Others, together with elected officers, decry what they see as glorifying violence and vigilantism.
Mangione and his attorneys have mentioned they plan to avail themselves of about $775,000 in cash raised on the GiveSendGo platform to help his authorized protection. The marketing campaign was organized by a gaggle named the December 4th Authorized Committee.
The Related Press contributed reporting
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