“The murder was an act of political violence,” according to the Justice Department. “Mangione’s actions involved substantial planning and premeditation, and because the murder took place in public with bystanders nearby, may have posed grave risk of death to additional persons.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that requires the Justice Department to seek the death penalty in federal cases when applicable. Mangione also faces murder and other state charges in Manhattan Supreme Court, which carry a maximum possible sentence of life without parole if he is convicted. Although the state case is expected to go to trial first, it isn’t clear if Bondi's death penalty announcement will change the order of how the cases are tried. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state indictment and has not entered a plea to the federal charges.

Meanwhile, the murder of Thompson has sparked a national conversation about claims denials by insurers. A proposed California ballot initiative named after Mangione recently was submitted to the California attorney general’s office. The initiative would make it illegal for an insurance company to “delay, deny or modify any medical procedure or medication” suggested by a licensed physician in the state that could have serious consequences, such as “disability, death, amputation, permanent disfigurement, loss or reduction of any bodily function.”

If the initiative is enacted, any decision by an insurer to delay, deny or modify can be made only by a physician on behalf of an insurer. The initiative also would make it a felony to employ someone who is not a physician to review a decision made by a physician. The initiative is under review, and a public comment period will be open through April 25.