Luigi Mangione's Terrorism Charges Dropped, Murder Case Moves Forward in New York State Court
Luigi Mangione appeared before Judge Gregory Carro in Manhattan state court as part of his pretrial proceedings connected to the Dec. 4, 2024, murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to all charges across state and federal jurisdictions.
Luigi Mangione’s terrorism charges were dismissed in Manhattan court; he still faces second-degree murder and multiple federal charges.
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Judge Carro dismissed the terrorism charges against Mangione, ruling the evidence as legally insufficient. The case will proceed on second-degree murder charges in New York, with pretrial hearings scheduled for Dec. 1. The judge also denied motions by Mangione’s defense team to dismiss the state indictment or delay proceedings, finding arguments of double jeopardy premature.
Carro explained that prosecutors had overemphasized the phrase “revolutionary anarchism” found in Mangione’s writings. According to his ruling, the defendant’s writings reflected a desire to spread a message about issues in the health care system, not an intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population. Carro also questioned whether company employees could be classified as a civilian population under terrorism law.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo has argued that the overlapping state and federal cases violate constitutional protections. She has also sought to suppress evidence from Mangione’s Dec. 9 arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, claiming illegal search and seizure. Letters addressed to the FBI and Mangione’s family were found during that arrest, according to court documents.
The prosecution, led by Joel Seidemann, has requested that the defense disclose whether psychiatric evidence will be used in pursuit of an insanity defense. Carro ordered Mangione’s legal team to comply.
Mangione appeared in court wearing tan prison attire and shackles, keeping mostly quiet as he spoke with his legal team. Unlike his prior appearance, he was not wearing a bulletproof vest. Supporters were present in the gallery, some dressed in green, a color associated with symbolic support for him.
His defense team has also accused New York State prosecutors of improperly accessing privileged communications and confidential health records. Carro has ruled that prosecutors may not use information obtained through an Aetna subpoena, though he has not yet ruled on its legality.
The case is unfolding across multiple jurisdictions. Mangione faces charges in federal court that include eligibility for the death penalty, as well as firearms-related charges in Pennsylvania. His Pennsylvania court date is set for Nov. 7, while his next federal court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 5 in Manhattan.
