Prosecutors say no harm was done by social media posts about
assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO
[October 09, 2025]
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors told a judge Wednesday that no harm
was done to prospects for a fair trial after two U.S. Justice Department
officials reposted potentially inflammatory comments President Donald
Trump made about Luigi Mangione after he was charged with assassinating
UnitedHealthcare's CEO.
They said in a written submission in Manhattan federal court that the
two employees aren't working on the case and didn't know that the judge
had warned lawyers to be careful what they share publicly. They said
they have since been warned.
And they said the distance from a trial date that has not yet been set
makes it even less likely that anything said publicly might impact
potential jurors who would be chosen to hear the case.
"These individuals are not members of the prosecution team, or trial
counsel or staff supervised by the prosecution team, or otherwise
employed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New
York. Nor are they law enforcement agents working on this prosecution,"
prosecutors wrote.
“They operate entirely outside the scope of the prosecution team,
possess no operational role in the investigative or prosecutorial
functions of the Mangione matter, and are not 'associated' with this
litigation,” they said.
Requests for comment were sent to Mangione’s defense lawyers.
Judge Margaret M. Garnett last month said the officials likely broke
court rules governing the conduct of prosecutors by reposting Trump's
comments. She asked the department to explain how the violations
occurred and what steps were taken to prevent a recurrence.
On Sept. 18, Trump was on Fox News when he called Mangione “a pure
assassin.”
[to top of second column]
|
“He shot someone in the back as clear as you’re looking at me,”
Trump said. “He shot him right in the middle of the back, instantly
dead.”
A video clip of Trump’s remarks was then posted on the social
platform X by the White House.
Chad Gilmartin, a Justice Department spokesperson, reposted the
comment, adding that “@POTUS is absolutely right.” Gilmartin’s post,
which was later deleted, was then reposted by Brian Nieves, an
associate deputy attorney general.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in the
fatal shooting of Brian Thompson on Dec. 4 as he arrived at a
Manhattan hotel for his company’s annual investor conference.
Earlier in September, defense lawyers for Mangione had asked that
his federal charges be dismissed and the death penalty be taken off
the table as a result of public comments by U.S. Attorney General
Pam Bondi.
They later told the judge that the government was continuing to
prejudice their client’s right to a fair trial with the re-postings
on social media of Trump’s comments.
Bondi declared prior to his April indictment that capital punishment
is warranted for a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that
shocked America.” Bondi announced in April that she was directing
Manhattan federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Mangione.
In the federal case, Mangione is charged with murder through use of
a firearm, which carries a potential death penalty, as well as
stalking and gun offenses.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
