Judge in New York dismisses state terrorism accusations against Luigi Mangione in the UnitedHealthcare affair
Luigi Mangione, a man who has been at the centre of controversy since the murder of Brian Thompson in December 2024, saw a significant development in his case this week. Judge Gregory Carro dismissed two counts of terrorism charges against Mangione, but the murder case and other related charges will still proceed.
The terrorism charges were dropped due to a lack of sufficient evidence presented by prosecutors. Mangione's attorney had previously argued that the prosecutors had not put forward sufficient evidence of terrorism intent. The judge's decision comes after a hearing in which Mangione's attorneys also made motions to throw out evidence recovered during his arrest and to dismiss the entire indictment brought in state court.
Mangione, who was arrested days after the shooting in Pennsylvania, now faces charges brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan and by local prosecutors in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Manhattan district attorney's office will proceed on the remaining counts, including murder in the second degree. If convicted, Mangione would face 25 years to life in prison.
The murder of Thompson, which occurred in Manhattan, was committed by Mangione, who shot Thompson with a hard-to-trace "ghost gun." A handwritten manifesto critical of the health care industry in the United States was also recovered during Mangione's arrest.
A wave of support for Mangione has been observed from U.S. citizens and people globally, including those critical of capitalism and the private health care industry. Notable figures such as activist and U.S. military whistleblower Chelsea Manning have attended previous Mangione court hearings. More than a dozen supporters of Mangione, primarily young women, attended the court hearing on the 13th floor.
Judge Carro stated it would be premature to rule on the double-jeopardy motion because Mangione has not been tried in any court since his arrest. Mangione's attorneys argue that dual prosecutions in state and federal court violate the Constitution's double-jeopardy clause, his due process rights, and could wrongly influence his right to a fair trial.
This story has been updated with additional information. Mangione will still face a murder charge and other weapons charges not connected to terrorism. The case continues to unfold, with Mangione's legal team working to ensure a fair trial for their client.
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