A federal judge warned senior Justice Department officials this week that continued public commentary on the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case against alleged killer Luigi Mangione could trigger sanctions for violating court rules governing statements about active litigation.
In an order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, said DOJ officials cited by Mangione’s defense team “appear to be in direct violation” of both local rules and a prior gag order in the high-profile murder case. She directed prosecutors to file a response by Oct. 3 explaining how the prohibited comments occurred and what steps are being taken to prevent future violations.
The order requires Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to circulate a department-wide warning that “future violations may result in sanctions,” including personal financial penalties or contempt findings.
The judge’s rebuke follows a flurry of statements by Trump administration officials describing Mangione in inflammatory terms.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled him a “left-wing assassin,” while DOJ spokespeople promoted President Donald Trump’s remarks on Fox News calling Mangione a killer. Wednesday’s ruling mentions a DOJ spokesman’s Sept. 19 X post referencing a clip of Trump saying Mangione “shot someone in the back as clear as you’re looking at me.”
“POTUS is absolutely right,” the spokesman, Chad Gilmartin, said in the since-deleted post.
In a Sept. 23 letter, attorneys Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan said the DOJ’s public remarks have endangered Mangione’s right to a fair trial.
Defense lawyers said the government’s rhetoric surged after the killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, which they believe has fueled prejudicial comparisons to Mangione. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, including the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson, 50, from behind on Dec. 4, when he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for his company’s annual investor conference. Authorities say the phrases “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” were written on the ammunition.
Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after the killing of Thompson. Authorities say he was carrying a 9 millimeter pistol and a book which contained descriptions of his intent to “wack” the healthcare CEO.
TERRORISM CHARGES AGAINST LUIGI MANGIONE IN UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO KILLING CASE DROPPED
Mangione is due back in federal court on Dec. 5 after the start of pretrial hearings in his case, and his federal and state trials have not yet been scheduled. The judge overseeing the state case recently dismissed a terrorism enhancement that prosecutors had sought to attach to one of the murder charges, but declined to dismiss his second-degree murder charge.
The issue echoes another case involving Kilmar Ábrego García, in which DOJ officials drew judicial warnings for out-of-court comments. In both matters, federal judges have reiterated that DOJ appointees in Washington must abide by the same court rules as line prosecutors.
