Samantha Max
Appearances
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
Well, Mangione is facing a few different cases, two here in New York, also one in Pennsylvania where he was arrested.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
In federal court, what's going to be happening is he has been charged, but he hasn't actually been indicted. So the case would theoretically advance to another level where he could be indicted. after a grand jury had considered the allegations against him. And then he actually has not entered a plea in his federal case. So he would be probably entering a plea if he were indicted.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
That's a really good question that is not totally clear at this point, honestly. Every month for the last few months now, the government has asked for an extra 30 days to decide whether or not they're going to bring an indictment.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
People outside with signs, people inside lining up. I mean, sometimes for a really long time to just want to get into the courtroom to see him. It's just a different experience than the people that you are typically seeing.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
So she has directed prosecutors in New York City to seek the death penalty.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
I mean, this whole case is a bit unprecedented and as we have seen, with several other federal cases since the Trump administration has taken office, that they're not exactly always following the typical protocols. Mangione's attorneys have filed papers challenging this request to seek the death penalty.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
calling out pam bondi for putting out this press release where they said that you know she didn't make it clear enough that these are only allegations that he is presumed innocent and actually in the government's response they were saying well it's way too early for the defense to be you know making a stink about the fact that the
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
There's this directive to seek the death penalty because we haven't even sought it yet. We haven't even indicted him yet. But of course, none of that would have been happening if it weren't for the attorney general putting out this press release, also making an Instagram post saying that she wants the death penalty for Mangione.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
Well, the state actually, I mean, they have no say really on what punishment the federal government does or doesn't seek. You know, the federal government, they're going by federal law and they can do what they want. And even the crimes that Mangione is accused of are pretty different from one to the other. In the state case, he's facing... murder charges and actually terrorism charges.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
In the federal case, he's facing stalking charges, charges that he stalked this healthcare executive across state lines and killed him. So it's two different theories here. New York State does not seek the death penalty anymore in its state cases. The highest court in New York has found that it is against the state's constitution. But in federal law, the death penalty is still allowed.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
It is still sought. I actually covered a federal death penalty case here in New York City brought by the same prosecutor's office. That was for a man named Seyfulo Saipov a few years ago.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
In that case, he was convicted, but there was this separate part of the trial where a jury then had to decide whether to give him the death penalty. And it has to be a unanimous decision. It's this whole long process. And in the end, they could not come to a unanimous decision to give him the death penalty. So he was instead sentenced to life in a federal prison.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
I mean, I think that's a really good question. In Saipov's case, that was an incredibly emotional trial. You had the loved ones of people who had been killed testifying, talking about just the tragic loss of their family members and friends. You actually had surviving victims that were testifying about these horrible injuries and traumas that were lingering.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
And even after all of that, that jury decided we are not going to put this person to death. So for someone like Mangione... You know, I could only imagine what it would be like for a jury to be making that type of decision. As you've said, he has garnered so much public support. The Ivy League grad has received an outpouring of support and hundreds of thousands in donations to his legal fund.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
Though, of course... A few things. I mean, one, this is one of these cases where it's always the question of how much is what's on the Internet real life. And just because our perception of public opinion might be one thing because of how things are playing out on the Internet.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
We don't know what it would be like for a jury, which, first of all, juries aren't always totally representative of society. It's a very particular group of people that is available to come to jury service and able to sit on what would likely be a very lengthy trial. But also, if this case does eventually go to trial, if there is eventually a death penalty phase coming,
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
That will be a long time from now. These cases are very complex. They take a long time to get through all of the investigating, building the case, putting everything together. So we don't know how public sentiment will change between then and now.
Today, Explained
Trump v. Mangione
The last time that I was in court with him, there were so many members of the public that wanted to be inside the courtroom, and so many of them were young women.