Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what prosecutors describe as a politically motivated assassination, pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges on Friday during an arraignment in Manhattan federal court. US prosecutors are seeking the death penalty—marking the first such federal case since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
When asked how he wanted to confess, the 26-year-old, flanked by his counsel and dressed in a mustard-colored prison dress, responded” not innocent.” Judge Margaret Garnett confirmed that Mangione understood the costs, which include chasing, death, and a weapon offense. On December 4, 2024, according to the prosecution, Mangione tragically shot Thompson from behind while he was waiting for his company’s annual investment meeting in a Midtown Manhattan resort.
While crowds gathered outside and smart cars circled with video criticizing the heath insurance industry and opposing the death penalty, the court was packed with spectators, including advocate Chelsea Manning. The situation has become a gathering place for Americans who oppose personal care.
Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this month, announcing the death sentence, said,” This was an act of political violence… a deliberate, cold-blooded death that frightened America.” Bondi’s lawyer criticized his statements in front of the court as a “political ploy” that harmed his constitutional rights and harmed his right to a reasonable test. Judge Garnett instructed lawyers to keep quiet and refrain from claims that might harm the proceedings on Friday.
Mangione’s attorneys are urging the New York state prosecution to start before the federal court case, where he could also face death costs and possible life in prison without the possibility of parole. No trial schedules have been set for him, but his upcoming national hearing is scheduled for December 5 — one day after the killing’s first anniversary.
Officials claim Mangione allegedly traveled from Atlanta to New York ten weeks prior to the killing and fled after the invasion. Five days later, he was detained in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a McDonald’s employee called the police. A 9mm handgun was recovered by the soldiers, along with a note describing the company’s plans to target a CEO of health insurance. According to the prosecution, Mangione wrote phrases like “wack an coverage CEO” and” the goal is insurance.”
Thompson was shot at by the masked shooter in security video. According to the report, the shots had the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” in them, a tactic that is frequently associated with insurance claims being denied.
Protesters outside the courtroom decried what they called the Justice Department’s “barbaric” policy and asserted that Mangione was being unfairly accused before going on test. According to Lindsay Floyd, an advocate who supports Mangione,” These are significant accusations that merit some reflection, hardly this demonization before the trial has also begun.”
