A federal judge in New York stated Wednesday that no less than two senior US Department of Justice (DOJ) officials “appear[ed] to be in direct violation” of a local court rule when they issued out-of-court statements suggesting Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was guilty before trial.

Judge Margaret M. Garnett ordered prosecutors to explain by October 3 how the DOJ officials’ statements occurred and what safeguards will prevent further violations.

Her order came a day after Mangione’s defense team filed a letter alleging that federal officials, including President Donald Trump, made incriminating comments that undermined Mangione’s right to a fair trial and violated court rules.

In a Fox News appearance on September 18, Presid

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