Luigi Mangione's Defense Seeks to Quash Federal Charges Citing Unconstitutional Actions
After securing a significant win in his New York state legal proceedings, attorneys for Luigi Mangione have submitted a formal plea seeking to quash the federal charges leveled against the individual accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
Within the extensive 114-page document, which Us Weekly acquired on Saturday, September 20, legal counsel Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan detail six instances where their client — described as “smart, kind, and well-rounded” — allegedly suffered infringements upon his "constitutional rights," contending that his "indictment ought to be thrown out" or, alternatively, "the prosecution should be prevented from pursuing this case as a capital offense."
To begin, Mangione’s legal team asserts that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued "extrajudicial statements" in both an April 1 press release and an Instagram update, instructing prosecutors to pursue capital punishment. (Bondi had declared then that "Luigi Mangione’s slaying of Brian Thompson — a blameless individual and parent to two young children — constituted a premeditated, brutal assassination that horrified the nation.")
An "extrajudicial statement" refers to any declaration, written or spoken, delivered outside of court. Attorneys typically face restrictions on public commentary, particularly when such remarks might bias an active legal case.
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Next, the defense attorneys voice apprehension that "the authorities permitted the grand jury to be swayed" by failing to screen them for any "exposure" to Bondi’s "unlawful and biased declarations."
Thirdly, Mangione’s representatives contend he was refused the chance to "offer extenuating details" before Bondi’s demand for capital punishment, an action they suspect was politically driven. (Bondi had stated in her press release and Instagram update that she was implementing President Donald Trump's "initiative to curb violent offenses.")
Fourth, the legal practitioners assert that "the issuance of a death-eligible indictment via unconstitutional and biased actions infringes upon Mangione's due process rights by compelling him to face trial before a jury suitable for capital cases," which, they maintain, "places the defendant at a considerable disadvantage."
Fifth, Mangione's counsel argues that the federal death penalty is "applied inconsistently and erratically," culminating in their ultimate contention — that capital punishment inherently stands as "unconstitutional."
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Furthermore, the defense team condemns Mangione's public display, or "perp walk," by "numerous law enforcement officers" and New York City Mayor Eric Adams — likened to a “captured drug lord or a character from a comic book” — shortly after his apprehension in December 2024, asserting it was "executed solely to strip their client of his humanity" and "served no valid… objective."
Mangione's legal representatives submitted this motion just four days subsequent to a New York judge dismissing the two gravest accusations against the 27-year-old, citing inadequate evidence: first-degree murder committed in support of a terrorist act and second-degree murder classified as a crime of terrorism.
Mangione continues to confront nine additional counts in his state-level proceedings, alongside four federal indictments, which encompass utilizing a firearm in a murder and cross-state stalking leading to a fatality.
The Ivy League alumnus, who grew up in Maryland, stands accused of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson, aged 50, in Midtown Manhattan last December. He has entered a plea of not guilty to every accusation.
