Luigi Mangione Denies Federal Charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's Killing

NEW YORK (CNN) — Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the previous year, entered a plea of not guilty on all federal accusations in the case on Friday.

During Friday’s hearing at the Manhattan federal courthouse, Mangione’s attorneys expressed their preference for having his federal charges proceed to trial before dealing with related state cases involving Thompson’s death. This comes following the announcement from the Justice Department that they intend to pursue capital punishment in the federal proceedings.

Wearing a light brown prison uniform and handcuffed at both hands and feet, Mangione submitted not-guilty pleas for one count of murder, two charges of stalking, and an arms-related violation. During the 30-minute proceeding, he occasionally jotted notes on a yellow legal pad while positioned between two defense attorneys.

In addition to the federal charges, the accused is also confronting state charges in New York, where Thompson passed away, as well as in Pennsylvania, where Mangione was apprehended—officials were involved. previously said His case from New York state will be addressed first.

However, during Friday’s hearing, his lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo stated that she plans to request his federal trial commence initially. She referenced the Justice Department’s statement from the previous day indicating their intention to pursue the death penalty for his primary federal charge—murder involving the use of a firearm. This announcement by the department occurred several weeks prior. Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed the office to pursue the fine.

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In the case from New York state, Mangione would encounter maximum sentence of life in prison If found guilty, based on what the prosecutors said. Information regarding when Mangione’s defense attorneys would ask for altering the sequence of his trials wasn’t readily obtainable.

The upcoming court appearance for Mangione in the federal case is set for December 5, at which time a trial date will be established, according to Judge Margaret Garnett on Friday. The judge anticipates that the proceedings would commence in 2026.

The court appearance scheduled for Friday follows roughly one week after a federal grand jury convened. indicted Mangione Regarding the four federal charges related to the December 4 murder of the insurance executive.

The assassination attempt on Thompson, who was en route to a UnitedHealthcare investors' conference in New York, has resulted in an outpouring of support For Mangione from individuals experiencing intense frustration and anger towards the American healthcare system driven by profit motives.

On Friday outside the courthouse, Mangione's supporters assembled, many adorned in green—a nod to Nintendo’s "Luigi" character—and carrying placards emblazoned with slogans such as “Luigi Before Fascists” and “End the Death Penalty Now: Stop the Violence.” Opponents were present too; one individual showcased what appeared to be a counterfeit skeleton clad in a green top paired with blue dungarees—clothing reminiscent of Luigi—fromNintendo—in an imitation electric chair setup.

Mangione’s last court appearance in February Similarly, he attracted a considerable group of followers.

In New York, he has pleaded not guilty To charge him with murder and terrorism. Regarding his case in Pennsylvania, he is also facing firearms and forgery charges related to the 3D-printed weapon and fake identification found with him when he was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Altoona. Before being sent back to New York for those charges, he had not entered a plea in Pennsylvania.

An attorney for Mangione submitted multiple motions in the Pennsylvania state court aiming to have the charges dismissed against him and to exclude various items of evidence from being used at trial if one were to occur. The legal team argued that Mangione had been unlawfully detained and searched by law enforcement officials. They also asked that Mangione’s seized documents not be labeled as a manifesto.

How we got here

The allegations arise from the December 4 shooting of Thompson in Midtown Manhattan, which triggered a extensive five-day search operation.

Mangione was apprehended in relation to the homicide in Pennsylvania, over 270 miles distant from where the shooting occurred. It is alleged that he had possession of the fake ID utilized by the suspect, the The firearm they think was used in the shooting and a handwritten “ claim of responsibility ,” authorities have said.

Mangione did not have coverage through UnitedHealthcare. However, when he was arrested, authorities claimed they found a hand-written notebook in which he conveyed "animosity towards the health insurance sector and high-ranking corporate leaders," as stated in a federal complaint. Additionally, the NYPD mentioned that three 9mm cartridge cases recovered from the location of the incident bore the inscriptions "delay," "deny," and "depose." This seems to reference a 2010 publication that exposed strategies used by insurers.

Mangione has garnered support from those who view the U.S. health insurance sector as broken, too costly and swift to reject claims. Most insured adults in the U.S. experienced this. at least one issue Within a year, some individuals had issues with their health insurance, such as claim denials, based on a survey conducted in June 2023 by KFF, a non-profit health policy research organization.

Mangione, came into this world and grew up in Maryland He graduated as valedictorian from an elite private school in Baltimore prior to pursuing studies in Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Following his arrest, when his identity became public knowledge, both spectators and reporters quickly turned their attention towards examining his extensive digital footprint. Amongst various posts, he detailed struggles with chronic back issues for several years and openly documented over 290 books either read or planned to be read. This included sharing a critique of the Unabomber’s manifesto on Goodreads.

A few weeks prior to the incident, Mangione’s mother had. reported him missing To officials in San Francisco, where he resided following his time in Hawaii and travels. Asia .

By Friday, a legal defense fund had been established. in support of Mangione has raised more than $900,000.

"To be frank, I'm not particularly astonished that we're seeing such extensive backing emerge at this juncture for this young man accused of taking such actions," stated Sam Beard, a representative for the December 4th Legal Committee—the organization spearheading funds for Mangione. previously told CNN’s Laura Coates.

"I believe Americans are tired of how the healthcare insurance system functions," Beard stated additionally.

At the same time, prominent political figures have harshly criticized Mangione’s purported acts, calling them egregious offenses, and stated that he ought to be subjected to significant repercussions.

In America, we do not resort to taking lives indiscriminately to settle policy disputes or convey our opinions," Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on the same day Mangione was arrested. "He does not qualify as a hero.

Strong public enthusiasm for Mangione

The highly divisive opinions surrounding his case have drawn significant public scrutiny towards Mangione.

In December, Mangione was swiftly transported from Pennsylvania to Lower Manhattan via a jet and a helicopter. remarkable spectacle In front of the media cameras, once they reached New York, Mangione was escorted in a long "perp walk" by an array of heavily armed NYPD officers. Following closely were New York Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

The defense contends that law enforcement and prosecutors acted improperly by catering to the television cameras during that event.

Mangione’s February 21 court hearing In New York, many of his supporters braved the freezing cold and lengthy queues just to get into the courthouse for the hearing on state charges.

Several individuals sported "Free Luigi" scarves and "Free Luigi" sweaters, chanting slogans that backed him up while condemning the U.S. healthcare sector.

Chelsea Manning, the ex-U.S. Army intelligence analyst who was found guilty for breaching the Espionage Act by disclosing classified information to WikiLeaks, was seen in attendance that day and was also present outside his federal court appearance on Friday.

During the February court proceeding, Mangione opted for a green sweater—a sartorial decision that prosecutors alleged was deliberately orchestrated by the defense team. "On one side, they have protested whenever external entities beyond their control make public comments or actions," prosecutors noted in a recent submission. "Yet simultaneously, they themselves have fueled the escalation of public interest."

Furthermore, prosecutors disclosed that Mangione’s lawyers gave him a fresh pair of argyle socks with concealed compartments. heart-shaped notes of support Mangione’s lawyers subsequently stated that they "accidentally overlooked" the notes inside the socks.

In the end, Mangione chose not to wear those socks during the hearing.

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