Luigi Mangione Lawyer Objects To Major Media Leaks In Murder Case

Luigi Mangione's lawyer has objected to what she says are major leaks of information to the media.

In a court filing, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, states that she has only learned about key facts in the key by reading articles in New York Magazine and Rolling Stone.

Newsweek sought email comment on Tuesday from Friedman Agnifilo, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the U.S Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Why It Matters

Mangione, 26, allegedly shot and killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York on December 4, 2024 as a protest against the medical insurance business. He faces federal murder charges that could carry the death penalty.

He additionally faces six charges in New York state, including murder in the furtherance of terrorism, for which he could serve life without parole. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defense team claims that prosecutors have been deliberately withholding evidence in what is a major murder case that could place Mangione on death row.

What To Know

Friedman Agnifilo filed a brief to New York Supreme Court on March 21 in which she claimed that "the prosecution is deliberately withholding discovery from the defense, law enforcement is routinely providing information to the public, including confidential Grand Jury information, in clear violation of Mr. Mangione's constitutional rights."

"Since the inception of this case, the defense has learned a great deal about the discovery in the People's possession from leaks and interviews given by law enforcement, even as recently as 11 days ago in a New York Magazine profile of the police commissioner."

Rolling Stone Article

"Similarly, counsel learned for the first time last week via a Rolling Stone magazine article that a police sergeant in San Francisco called the FBl's New York Office to inform them that the suspected shooter resembled the missing persons case he was working on relating to Mr. Mangione."

"Not only did we learn from a media report that this San Francisco detective proactively called the FBI, but he also leaked private information to the media regarding a bank withdrawal in August, as well as Mr. Mangione's confidential medical information," she alleged.

"Once again, counsel received this information from the media and not the prosecutor's office pursuing first-degree murder charges against Mr. Mangione and also seeking life imprisonment while tainting public perception and future jurors."

What People Are Saying

After Mangione was indicted on federal murder charges then Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement: " As alleged, Mangione planned his attack for months and stalked his victim for days before murdering him — methodically planning when, where, and how to carry out his crime."

"I am grateful to our state and local law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to locate and apprehend the defendant and to ensure that he answers for his alleged crime."

What Happens Next

The court will allow prosecutors the opportunity to reply to defense claims that they leaked information to the media.

The defense may be laying the groundwork for a request to move the case out of New York state because of the potential for jury prejudice.