Margaret Garnett Rules Out Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione

Judge Margaret Garnett ruled that federal prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson because stalking charges do not meet the legal definition of a crime of violence.The decision follows a directive from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Donald Trump to pursue capital punishment despite New York state laws prohibiting the practice.While the judge dismissed specific federal counts, she allowed the use of evidence found in the backpack of Luigi Mangione and scheduled federal jury selection to begin on September 8, 2026.