Jared Lee Loughner, who killed six people and injured thirteen others (including then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) last year near Tucson, cut a deal yesterday: By agreeing to plead guilty to perpetrating the massacre, federal prosecutors in return spared the 23-year-old from the death penalty.

But why would Eric Holder’s Justice Department agree to this? Loughner clearly had no leverage, and a conviction was never in doubt. He was even arrested at the scene of the crime, where police found the weapon used in the crime and multiple eyewitnesses.