Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man, has entered a not guilty plea in federal court concerning the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which took place in New York last year. Arrested in December, Mangione faces both murder and stalking charges in light of the shooting incident that occurred outside a Manhattan hotel. Federal prosecutors have indicated their intention to pursue the death penalty if he is convicted, citing that Mangione allegedly committed the murder to promote an ideological viewpoint against the health insurance sector.
During the court session, Mangione arrived dressed in a prison outfit, handcuffed, and affirmed to the judge that he had reviewed the indictment before declaring his not guilty plea. On the same day, prosecutors formally advanced their capital punishment request. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi characterized Thompson's murder as "an act of political violence," arguing that the killing was intended to incite resistance against the health insurance system. Mangione's defense team has referred to the pursuit of the death penalty as "barbaric."
The hearing, lasting 35 minutes, was overseen by Judge Margaret Garnett, who worked with attorneys to establish a pre-trial timetable. The volume of evidence, estimated at “three terabytes,” including video footage, social media data, and communications from financial and phone networks, prompted the judge to acknowledge that it may delay Mangione's federal trial until at least 2026. The next hearing is slated for December 5, 2023, to determine a definitive trial date.
Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, argued that her client should be tried in federal court before facing state charges, due to the implications of the death penalty. She also raised concerns regarding the accessibility of confidential communication between Mangione and his legal team, alleging that state prosecutors had been listening in on their conversations. Judge Garnett has called for future cooperation from the prosecution regarding the protections necessary for privileged legal communications and has instructed the defense to submit additional motions related to the death penalty.
In December, after the murder took place on December 4, Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania, just days after the incident. The public response to Thompson's killing has ignited intense discussions about the issues surrounding privatized healthcare, with some individuals portraying Mangione as a folk hero—support that has translated into nearly $1 million in contributions to his legal defense. Demonstrators have also gathered outside the courthouse, referencing particular phrases found at the crime scene that are linked to healthcare companies' practices.
