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If convicted, Luigi Mangione is now going through the demise penalty.
Late final yr, following a considerably clownish manhunt, authorities arrested Mangione.
Many see him as an harmless man, presumably the sufferer of framing. Many see him as a nascent people hero.
Nonetheless, the Trump administration is accusing him of being a “cold-blooded assassin.” And Trump’s Legal professional Normal is looking for to execute Mangione.
Luigi Mangione, suspect within the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York Metropolis, arrives at a heliport with members of the NYPD on December 19, 2024 in New York Metropolis. The 26-year-old was arrested in Pennsylvania on December 9 after being noticed at a McDonald’s in Altoona amid a nationwide manhunt. (Picture Credit score: Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs)
Trump’s AG is looking for the demise penalty
On Tuesday, April 1, Donald Trump’s Legal professional Normal, Pam Bondi, introduced that she is directing federal prosecutors to hunt the demise penalty towards Mangione.
“Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” Bondi started in an announcement.
“After careful consideration,” she claimed, “I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
U.S. Legal professional Normal Pamela Bondi directs prosecutors to hunt the demise penalty for Luigi Mangione.
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— Pop Base (@popbase.television) April 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Somebody fatally shot United Well being CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on December 4.
5 days later, authorities arrested Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Police have claimed to have discovered proof supporting the arrest in his possession.
Mangione has now spent months in jail.
Although People have contributed lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} to his protection fund in assist of him,
On this handout photograph launched by the Altoona Police Division, Luigi Mangione is seen in a holding cell after being taken into custody on December 9, 2024 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Picture Credit score: Altoona Police Division through Getty Photographs)
Why are so many individuals so sympathetic in direction of the accused, and never the sufferer?
So many individuals have expressed robust sympathies in direction of Mangione. And solely a few of that is concerning the proof — what little we all know of it — surrounding his arrest.
This isn’t about Mangione, however quite concerning the man who died. As a result of days earlier than authorities claimed to have discovered the shooter, Thompson’s demise was met with mockery and even celebration on social media.
To be blunt, healthcare in the USA is damaged. When a healthcare big’s CEO presides over the life and demise of 1000’s of sufferers in an effort to maximise income, they’ll, at greatest, anticipate little sympathy from most of the people.
Luigi Nicholas Mangione leaves the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on December 19, 2024. (Picture Credit score: GENE J. PUSKAR/POOL/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Some have characterised — and proceed to characterize — Luigi Mangione as a “hero.”
We’ve to emphasise that that is inappropriate.
No matter you consider the costs that he’s going through, he stays harmless within the eyes of the legislation. If something, “accused hero” can be extra applicable.
Luigi Mangione, suspect within the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York Metropolis, arrives at a heliport with members of the NYPD on December 19, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Picture Credit score: Stephanie Keith/Getty Photographs)
Why such a hard-line coverage towards somebody so wildly widespread?
As for why Bondi would search the demise penalty on this case, it’s straightforward to easily anticipate the worst from the worst people who this nation has to supply and go away it at that.
Nonetheless, this explicit transfer appears to fall according to a lot of the Trump administration’s transfer, as they use the federal authorities’s energy to silence and disappear critics all throughout America.
That is about greater than the victims of those government-sponsored abductions. It is usually about intimidating others into silence because the American constitutional disaster worsens.
Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse for an extradition listening to December 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. (Picture by Jeff Swensen/Getty Photographs)
Whoever killed Brian Thompson killed a CEO in considered one of America’s most reviled industries. Lots of Trump’s cheerleaders and monetary backers are CEOs of America’s most reviled industries.
If he can weaponize the federal authorities to make an instance of somebody so beloved, maybe it’ll crush folks’s spirits.
Focusing on a beloved people hero — whether or not he did the deed or not — doesn’t at all times go over nicely for maniacal despots, in fiction or in historical past.
However, to the Trump administration, a part of the purpose could also be easy cruelty and revenge quite than the broader political technique.
