During President Donald Trump’s first term, he was the only president in 20 years to use the death penalty in federal inmates.

Now, the Maryland man charged with gunning down a healthcare company executive could be the first to get a death sentence under Trump’s second term.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who was charged with stalking and killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

This is the first time the U.S. Justice Department has sought the death penalty since federal executions were reinstated by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.

Is the federal death penalty legal?

Currently, the death penalty is legal at the federal level, but in recent decades, most U.S. presidents have not made use of the capital punishment.

Over the last 20 years, there have been only 13 federal executions, all of which took place between 2020 and Jan. 2021, during Trump’s first term.

As of Dec. 31, fewer than five federal inmates are on death row, after then President Joe Biden commuted 37 death sentences.

Is the death penalty legal in New Jersey?

No, the death penalty is not legal in New Jersey. In fact, New Jersey was the first state to abolish the death penalty through legislation, rather than by judicial decision.

The death penalty is also banned in the District of Columbia and in 22 other states, aside from New Jersey.

Does New York have the death penalty?

In New York, the death penalty was outlawed in 2004 by a state court ruling. This means that New York prosecutors cannot pursue the death penalty in the case of Luigi Mangione.