New York [US], April 26 (ANI):
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in 2024, pleaded not guilty to all federal charges against him during his arraignment in Manhattan federal court on Friday, CNN reported.
Mangione, 26, entered not-guilty pleas to charges including murder, two counts of stalking, and a firearms offense.
His legal team indicated a preference for his federal trial to proceed before his state cases in New York and Pennsylvania.
The Justice Department has announced it will seek the death penalty for Mangione, citing the charge of murder through the use of a firearm.
Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, stated during the arraignment that she would request the federal trial be scheduled first, arguing that the seriousness of the federal charges, particularly the death penalty pursuit, should take precedence.
Judge Margaret Garnett set the next hearing for December 5, 2025, and indicated that the trial would likely begin in 2026.
In addition to the federal case, Mangione faces state charges in New York, where Thompson was killed, and in Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested.
In Pennsylvania, he faces firearms and forgery charges related to a 3D-printed gun and false identification found during his arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona.
Previously, officials suggested that Mangione’s New York state case would proceed first, where a conviction could lead to a life sentence.
However, the federal pursuit of capital punishment has altered the legal landscape.
Outside the courthouse on Friday, supporters of Mangione gathered, some dressed in green to symbolize Nintendo’s “Luigi” character.
They held banners with messages such as “Luigi Before Fascists” and “Stop the Violence: End the Death Penalty Now,” reflecting broader anger over the American for-profit healthcare system, which some link to the context of Thompson’s death.
Mangione has also pleaded not guilty to state murder and terrorism charges in New York.
In Pennsylvania, his defense team has filed motions to dismiss the charges and suppress certain evidence, claiming authorities illegally searched Mangione and improperly characterized his writings as a “manifesto.”
Earlier this month, Mangione’s lawyers sought to prevent the Justice Department from pursuing the death penalty, labeling it a “political stunt.”
They argued that the Justice Department failed to follow proper protocols and violated Mangione’s due process rights, adding that public statements by Attorney General Pam Bondi had tainted the grand jury proceedings. (ANI)
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