Luigi Mangione’s attorneys requested a federal judge in Manhattan on Saturday to drop several charges against him, including the charge that could lead to the death penalty.
According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, the defense claimed that prosecutors have misused federal laws, exaggerating the case’s scope to dramatize the crime. They also believe the case should be handled in state court rather than federal court.
The defense team argued that Mangione’s statements to law enforcement should not be used at trial, as he was not informed of his Miranda rights before questioning at a McDonald’s. They maintain that any subsequent statements should be excluded from evidence.
Mangione faces accusations of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in front of a Manhattan hotel during an insurance company’s investment conference. The killing, captured on video, allegedly stemmed from financial and corporate tensions with Mangione targeting Thompson.
Mangione fled the scene but was captured days later.
This high-profile case has caught public attention, leading to widespread criticism of U.S. health insurers and creating unease among corporate leaders about safety concerns.
Mangione has entered a not guilty plea. His defense team argues the prosecution’s case is largely based on indirect evidence and procedural errors rather than clear proof of intent or organized crime.
Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appears in Manhattan state court in New York on Sept. 16, 2025. Mangione is being represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, right. (Steven Hirsch for New York Post via Pool)
Last month, lawyers for Mangione asked that his federal charges be dismissed and that the death penalty be taken off the table as a result of public comments by Attorney General Pam Bondi. In April, Bondi directed prosecutors in New York to seek the death penalty, calling the killing of Thompson a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
Mangione is being represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a high-profile New York defense attorney who is also a former Manhattan prosecutor and former CNN legal analyst.
Judge Miriam Goldberg of the Southern District of New York has set oral arguments for Dec. 5.
