This was unexpected. And overshadowed by everything going on in the Middle East. Federal prosecutors who are handling the Luigi Mangione case have appeared to throw the white flag when it comes to seeking the death penalty. Mangione, who is facing Federal charges of stalking and state charges of second-degree murder and weapons charges, will no longer face the death penalty after prosecutors declined to appeal a judge’s ruling that prevented them from seeking the needle for Mangione. NBC News reported more on the prosecutor’s decision not to appeal: Manhattan federal prosecutors declined to appeal a judge’s ruling that barred them from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In a letter, the government said it would not pursue an “interlocutory review” of the order from U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett, who instructed prosecutors to determine by Friday whether they would appeal her ruling. Mangione’s legal team on Friday declined to comment on the government’s update. Last month, Garnett dismissed two of the four federal counts against Mangione, 27, which include murder through the use of a firearm and a related firearms offense. That murder charge carries a potential death sentence. Mangione still faces two counts of interstate stalking, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. LUIGI: The feds will NOT try to appeal Judge Garnett’s ruling challenging the death penalty in Luigi Mangione’s murder case. Cc @CourthouseNews pic.twitter.com/e6w29igUuk — Erik Uebelacker (@Uebey) February 27, 2026 ABC News reported the next court dates Mangione is expected to attend in the near future: he defense wanted the death penalty taken off the table, arguing that stalking “fails to qualify as a crime of violence” and therefore cannot be the predicate to make Mangione eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted of the federal charges. The defense also argued that the decision to seek the death penalty was political and circumvented the federal government’s protocols. Thompson in Midtown Manhattan in December 2024, has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges. Garnett said jury selection in the federal case will begin on Sept. 8 and opening statements on Oct. 13. He is due to stand trial in state court beginning June 8.