New York judge drops Luigi Mangione terrorism charges

(NewsNation) — A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in his New York state case. He still faces second-degree murder charges.

Mangione appeared in a New York courtroom Tuesday, when Judge Gregory Carro stated that two counts under the terrorism statute were legally insufficient based on the evidence presented to the grand jury.

“While there is no doubt that the crime at issue here is not ordinary ‘street crime,’ it does
not follow that all non-street crimes were meant to be included within the reach of the terrorism
statute,” Carro wrote in his ruling.

“While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population,’ and indeed, there was no evidence presented of such a goal,” he continued.

The judge retained the remaining charges of murder in the second degree.

That charge carries a potential penalty of 15 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Mangione has pleaded not guilty. 

A trial date has not yet been scheduled. Pretrial hearings have been set for Dec. 1.

Luigi Mangione appears in court for first time in months

In court Tuesday, Mangione kept his head down, occasionally speaking briefly with his attorney before turning his attention back toward the ongoing discussion.

It was Mangione’s first court appearance in the state case since February, and he appeared in a beige prison jumpsuit with handcuffs and shackles.

Luigi Mangione supporters line up at courthouse

Outside the courthouse, a small group of Mangione supporters gathered, including one person dressed as the Nintendo character Luigi and another carrying an Italian tricolor flag inscribed with “Healthcare is a human right.” 

Inside, about two dozen members of the public — mostly young women — filled the back rows of the courtroom to watch the proceeding. One wore a black t-shirt that read “Free Luigi” in bold white letters

Mangione has developed a national following since his arrest, and his legal defense fund has received $1.2 million in donations.

Luigi Mangione also faces federal trial

Mangione also faces federal charges, which could carry the possibility of the death penalty.

Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks, with the state charges expected to go to trial first.

Mangione’s lawyers argued Tuesday that the New York case and a parallel federal death penalty prosecution amounted to double jeopardy. Carro rejected that argument, saying it would be premature to make such a determination.

Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson in the back and the leg in front of the Hilton Hotel in New York City last year.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office previously released excerpts from a notebook, allegedly found on Mangione when he was arrested, that include details and planning behind the killing.

The excerpts revealed a desire to kill Thompson to “prove a political point about the health insurance industry” and “extract human life force for money.”