A federal judge has raised concerns that two senior Justice Department officials may have breached a court order by reposting President Donald Trump’s comments about Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.
Mangione, who faces federal murder and firearms charges, has pleaded not guilty, and his legal team argues that public statements are undermining his right to a fair trial.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett ordered the DOJ to explain the apparent violations by the end of next week, warning that further breaches could lead to sanctions, such as fines or contempt of court.
The issue stems from social media activity on X, where a DOJ public affairs deputy director reposted a clip of Trump’s Fox News interview, in which he called Mangione a “pure assassin” who “shot someone in the back.”
The deputy director added, “@POTUS is absolutely right,” and the post was later shared by the chief of staff to the deputy attorney general.
Mangione’s lawyers highlighted these actions in a court filing, arguing that they prejudice their client’s case by linking him to unrelated violent events and extremist groups without evidence.
Judge Garnett, a Biden appointee, noted that the posts appear to violate her April 2025 order, which prohibits public comments that could interfere with a fair trial.
Mangione’s legal team also flagged statements from White House officials, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who labeled Mangione a “left-wing assassin,” and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who described him as an “anti-fascist” on Fox News.
The lawyers contend these claims are baseless, citing Mangione’s journal writings, which make no mention of such affiliations.
Garnett will consider these statements when reviewing Mangione’s motion to challenge the death penalty and dismiss the indictment, citing violations of his constitutional rights.
The case continues to draw attention as the DOJ navigates the balance between public discourse and judicial fairness.