US judge rules Luigi Mangione won't face death penalty in CEO killing case

The article doesn't explain clearly why, even though no one seems to be disputing the murder, the murder charge is being dismissed.

It's because of jurisdiction.

Normally, only states have jurisdiction over murders. The feds can charge murder if and only if the murder is connected to some other federal "crime of violence" (e.g. killing a federal official, murder-for-hire across state lines).

Here, the federal 'hook' was interstate stalking. But the federal stalking crime apparently isn't a "crime of violence" because you can stalk without intentional force.

Because the stalking charges don't legally qualify as "crimes of violence", the federal government doesn't have jurisdiction over the alleged murder.

  Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered Manhattan federal prosecutors last April to seek the death penalty against Mangione.
  ...
  Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge that had enabled prosecutors to seek capital punishment, finding it technically flawed. 

How many gross errors of basic law and procedure has the current AG made and overseen to date?

  In 2020, Bondi was one of President Donald Trump's defense lawyers during his first impeachment trial. By 2024, she led the legal arm of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute. On November 21, 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Bondi for U.S. attorney general after former congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration.

These are impressive credentials.

Why?