NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused in the high-profile killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded not guilty to federal charges during his arraignment on Friday in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors allege the murder was a politically motivated act of violence and are pursuing the death penalty — the first such federal case since former President Donald Trump returned to office.
Wearing a mustard-colored jail uniform and accompanied by his legal team, Mangione entered a plea of “not guilty” before Judge Margaret Garnett. The charges include murder using a firearm, stalking, and related firearms violations. Prosecutors claim Mangione shot Thompson from behind with a silenced pistol outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024, as the CEO arrived for UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor meeting.
The courtroom was filled with spectators, including whistleblower and activist Chelsea Manning, while outside the courthouse, demonstrators protested both the private healthcare system and the use of the death penalty. Mobile trucks played videos criticizing the health insurance industry, underscoring how the case has become a flashpoint for healthcare reform advocates.
Attorney General Pam Bondi previously described the killing as “a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” while announcing the Justice Department’s decision to seek capital punishment. Mangione’s defense attorneys criticized her remarks as prejudicial and politically charged, arguing that they compromised the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Judge Garnett issued a warning to prosecutors on Friday, urging them to refrain from making statements that could influence the proceedings.
Mangione also faces state-level charges in New York, which carry a potential life sentence without parole. His legal team has requested that the federal case proceed first. No trial dates have been set, but a federal status hearing is scheduled for December 5 — one day after the first anniversary of Thompson’s killing.
Investigators allege that Mangione traveled from Atlanta to New York ten days before the attack and fled the scene afterward. He was apprehended five days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after McDonald’s employees notified authorities. Police recovered a 9mm handgun and a notebook allegedly containing phrases like “the target is insurance” and “wack an insurance CEO.”
Surveillance footage reportedly shows the masked gunman firing at Thompson, with bullets said to be etched with the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” — widely seen as a reference to common insurance denial tactics.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of Mangione criticized the government’s approach. “These are serious accusations that deserve careful consideration, not public vilification before trial,” said Lindsay Floyd, one of several activists expressing concern about the fairness of the legal process.
