Judge: DOJ Violated Mangione’s Fair Trial Rights
A federal judge has ordered prosecutors to respond to allegations that Trump administration officials violated Local Criminal Rule 23.1 with social media posts concerning Luigi Mangione’s case, potentially infringing upon his right to a fair trial. The judge cited posts from high-ranking DOJ staff members that appeared to violate the rule, which restricts non-lawyer personnel from releasing opinions that could prejudice a trial. Specifically, the posts referenced Mangione’s alleged guilt in the shooting of Brian Thompson. The court warned that future violations, particularly those falsely linking Mangione to unrelated violent incidents, may result in sanctions and ordered the DOJ to respond.
John Q. Hosedrinker