ISTANBUL

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Justice Department officials appear to have "directly" violated court rules and a previous order by making public statements about Luigi Mangione's murder case.

US District Judge Margaret Garnett found that multiple Justice Department employees, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, may have broken Local Criminal Rule 23.1 and her April 25 order that specifically warned against such statements.

The rule prohibits lawyers and their staff from releasing opinions that could interfere with a fair trial or prejudice justice administration in criminal cases.

"The statements referenced ... by two high-ranking staff members of the Department of Justice, including within the Office of Attorney General, appear to be in direct violation of this Rule and the Court's April 25 Order," Garnett ruled.

The judge's order came after Mangione's defense lawyer complained on Tuesday that government officials, potentially including high-ranking Justice Department staff, had been making public statements about the case.

Garnett ordered the government to respond by Oct. 3, with a sworn declaration from a senior official explaining how the violations occurred despite her previous warning.

The Justice Department must also detail steps being taken to prevent future violations and notify the Deputy Attorney General that further breaches could result in "personal financial penalties, contempt of court findings, or relief specific to the prosecution."

Mangione faces federal charges including first-degree murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.