Prosecutors argue that Luigi Mangione's defense team is using confidential records, which allegedly infringe upon privacy, in his defense.
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is currently awaiting both state and federal murder trials. The federal case carries the possibility of the death penalty, with prosecutors citing five aggravating factors, including premeditation and future dangerousness [1][2][4].
However, the trial is not without its legal battles. Mangione's defense team has accused the Manhattan District Attorney's office of violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by improperly reviewing Mangione's private medical records. The defense claims that prosecutors accessed detailed medical diagnoses and communications Mangione made with healthcare providers, potentially violating HIPAA privacy rules [3][4].
The defense alleges that this information was obtained when Mangione's health insurer, Aetna, handed over information pursuant to a subpoena. Prosecutors deny wrongdoing, arguing they only sought basic insurance coverage information and blame Aetna for providing more data than requested. The defense has requested an evidentiary hearing to clarify how the subpoena was issued, what information was reviewed, and who supervised the process [3][4].
Depending on findings, the defense may seek to suppress this evidence, recuse the prosecution team, or dismiss the indictment. It's important to note that the defense inadvertently sent the same healthcare information to prosecutors in an email, further complicating the matter [4].
The shooting occurred outside a shareholder conference in New York City last fall. Surveillance video from the hotel shows a masked man sneaking behind Thompson and firing multiple shots [5]. Investigators recovered writings from Mangione where he blasted the healthcare industry and allegedly referenced both UnitedHealthcare and the 2024 shareholder conference [2]. Mangione is also accused of writing messages on bullet casings found at the scene [2].
In addition to the New York case, Mangione is facing federal charges of murder and other charges in Pennsylvania, where police arrested him, allegedly in possession of a "ghost gun" and 3D-printed silencer [6]. The CEO of UnitedHealthcare's parent company mourned Thompson's killing and implored people to see that industry executives are trying their best with a flawed system [7].
Mangione's next appearance in the New York Supreme Criminal Court in Manhattan is scheduled for Sept. 16. He is facing 11 counts, including murder as an act of terrorism [8]. Prosecutors have denied the allegations and claimed the request for information was lawful [9]. The defense received extra materials from Aetna that they turned over to the court [9]. An eyewitness reportedly ran off in the opposite direction of the suspect after the shooting [10].
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/luigi-mangione-murder-trial.html [2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/us/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-details.html [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/healthcare/hipaa-violations-alleged-in-luigi-mangione-murder-case/2025/08/02/9562d674-12a6-5f7a-8f20-f2eb394d114d_story.html [4] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/03/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-hipaa-violations-516072 [5] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-surveillance-video-shows-masked-man-shooting-n1334731 [6] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-pennsylvania-charges/ [7] https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-news/unitedhealthcare-ceo-mourns-killing-brian-thompson-2025-08-04/ [8] https://www.abcnews.go.com/US/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-counts-including-terrorism/story?id=87635873 [9] https://www.apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-prosecutors-deny-allegations-516071 [10] https://www.foxnews.com/us/luigi-mangione-murder-trial-eyewitness-account-emerges
- The defense team in the Luigi Mangione trial, charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has also accused the Manhattan District Attorney's office of violating the General-News (HIPAA) by improperly reviewing Mangione's private medical records.
- Additionally, the defense claims that the politics surrounding the handling of Mangione's health information, particularly the subpoena issued to his health insurer, Aetna, may have implications for the Crime-and-Justice aspects of the trial, potentially impacting the evidence presented.
