Mangione lawyers say U.S. prosecutors seek death penalty "as a political stunt"

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione asked a judge to stop federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against their client, saying the U.S. government "intends to kill Mr.

Mangione as a political stunt." The motion filed Friday in the U.S.



District Court of the Southern District said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the death penalty to "carry out President Trump's agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.

" Mangione, 26, who faces state murder and terrorism charges in New York , along with federal murder and stalking charges , is accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year in New York City. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to 11 state charges and is not eligible for the death penalty in New York State. He has not yet been arraigned on the federal charges.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Alice Gainer contributed to this report.

UnitedHealthcare Luigi Mangione Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday.

She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at cara.

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