Attorneys for Luigi Mangione have accused federal prosecutors of manipulating public opinion and violating his right to a fair trial in the murder case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione faces both state and federal charges for the December 2024 killing of Thompson outside a healthcare conference in Midtown Manhattan. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said in a statement that reports of plea discussions attributed to anonymous sources form part of a troubling pattern by prosecutors and law enforcement. She added that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, including Mangione who faces the same charges twice.
The trial in the state case is set to begin in September, with the federal interstate stalking trial scheduled to start in November. Earlier this month, Mangione's attorneys withdrew a notice of intent to argue an extreme emotional disturbance defense.
Legal experts note that discussions about plea agreements are common and can occur at any stage before trial.
