Federal Prosecutors Drop Death Penalty Appeal in Mangione Case
Federal prosecutors will not appeal a ruling that removed the death penalty from the case against Luigi Mangione — even though it significantly reshapes the stakes ahead of trial.
According to 6abc Philadelphia, prosecutors notified U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett that they will not seek review of her order dismissing federal murder and firearms charges that made Mangione eligible for capital punishment.
The judge ruled that the remaining federal stalking charge does not legally qualify as a “crime of violence,” which is required under federal law to pursue the death penalty.
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Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the 2024 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan.
His federal trial is expected to begin in the fall, with jury selection set for Sept. 8. A separate New York state murder trial is scheduled for June 8.
The decision means capital punishment is officially off the table in the federal case — and shifts the legal strategy moving forward.
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