Pam Bondi has been chastised by a New York judge for calling Luigi Mangione a “cold-blooded” assassin.

Ms Bondi, the attorney general, asked for Mr Mangione to face the death penalty for federal charges relating to the alleged killing of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of United Healthcare.

“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” said Ms Bondi.

“After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”

At a federal arraignment hearing in New York on Friday, Judge Margaret Garnett said that “given the nature of the case” she reminded both sides about public comments they made that could “impact or affect Mr Mangione’s ability to get a fair trial” or to choose an impartial jury.