Luigi Mangione wants access to laptop while awaiting trial in case of United HealthCare CEO killing
Without a laptop, counsel would have to print out more than 15,000 pages of discovery for Mangione to keep in his cell pending his trial, his attorneys, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan, said in the court filing.
However, prosecutors 'do not plan on consenting to a personal laptop at this time' because of the sensitive nature of many of the documents and alleged threats to witnesses in the case.
Mangione, 26, faces federal and state charges in connection with the death of CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione, a 2016 Gilman valedictorian and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is charged with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism.
'There is no good reason why Mr. Mangione has not been provided with complete discovery, all of which is entirely in law enforcement's possession,' Mangione's attorney said in the court filing. 'Not only is there no legitimate basis for a protective order to withhold this information from the defense, but there is also no connection between Mr. Mangione and any purported threats to anyone.'
Mangione's counsel noted that many other federal inmates at the prison are provided laptops to review their discovery. In those cases, counsel obtains a laptop and provides it to an approved vendor to modify in compliance with the prison's regulations by disabling the laptop's connections to the internet, printers, wireless networks, games, and entertainment programs.
Mangione's legal team declined to comment, referring all questions to the latest court filing.
This case has generated international interest and has become a rallying cry for those who share Mangione's apparent anger with the health insurance industry.
Mangione is accused of shooting Thompson outside a New York City hotel on Dec. 4 as he headed to UnitedHealth Group's annual investor meeting. He is accused of carefully planning the murder — traveling to New York to find him, carrying a gun with a silencer to carry out the killing and developing a document that chronicled his disdain for the insurance industry, which law enforcement said they found on him at the time of his arrest.
He was later arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with a gun suspected of being linked to the three shell casings discovered at the crime scene. Investigators said his fingerprints matched those investigators found on a water bottle and snack bar wrapper.
Mangione has 11 New York state charges, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism.
Federal charges against him include two counts of stalking and one count each of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty, and one count of discharging a firearm that was equipped with a silencer in 'furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum potential sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years,' according to U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District of New York.
In addition, he has been charged with gun and forgery offenses in Pennsylvania. He was held there until Dec. 19, when he was extradited from the Blair County Courthouse to New York to face the most serious offenses.
Last month, more than 100 mostly female supporters crowded into the hallways of a New York criminal court to support Mangione in a court appearance. His attorneys have questioned whether he will be able to get a fair trial because of the publicity surrounding the case and some tactics by the prosecutors, who allegedly discussed evidence publicly without sharing it with the defense team.
'To make matters worse, while the prosecution is deliberately withholding discovery from the defense, law enforcement is routinely providing information to the public, including confidential Grand Jury information, in clear violation of Mr. Mangione's constitutional rights,' the latest court filing reads. 'Since the inception of this case, the defense has learned a great deal about the discovery in the People's possession from leaks and interviews given by law enforcement, even as recently as 11 days ago in a New York magazine profile of the police commissioner.'
A fundraiser on GiveSendGo that is raising funds to help Mangione pay for his legal defense has reached $757,702 toward its goal of $1 million.
Officials with the Manhattan district attorney's office could not be reached for comment.
Mangione's next federal court hearing is scheduled for April 18. He is set to make another appearance in state court in June.
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CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Luigi Mangione's attorneys seek hearing over claims DA's office improperly obtained medical records
Luigi Mangione's defense attorneys are doubling down on accusations the Manhattan District Attorney's office improperly obtained and reviewed his medical records. The DA's office denied the claims, but Mangione's attorneys are once again asking the judge to hold an evidentiary hearing on the matter. "Based on the evidence developed through this discovery process and the requested hearing, the defense reserves the right to seek various remedies, including the recusal of the prosecution team, suppression of evidence or dismissal of the indictment," the defense wrote in their latest filing. Attorneys for the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson first raised the allegations over his medical records in a filing last month. They claimed the DA's office wrongfully obtained the records by compelling Aetna to turn over confidential information, violating health privacy laws. Sources in the DA's office said they requested limited information but Aetna sent additional material in error, and that they deleted the material as soon as they became aware of it. "Even assuming Aetna's subpoena response exceeded what the District Attorney's Office requested, that still does not justify the prosecution reviewing Mr. Mangione's protected medical records that it was mistakenly given," the defense wrote in the new filing. This isn't the first time the defense raised concerns about evidence and tried to get the charges dismissed. They also accused the DA's office of listening to a recording of a phone call with their client, and they are seeking to have at least two of the counts against him thrown out. Mangione faces a slew of federal and state charges in the December 2024 shooting of Thompson outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The federal charges are eligible for the death penalty, which federal prosecutors say they intend to pursue. In June, the DA's office released a filing with handwritten notes they say Mangione wrote and outlined his motive. Arguing in support of the state terrorism charge, prosecutors wrote, "If ever there were an open and shut case pointing to the defendant's guilt, this case is that case." Mangione has pleaded not guilty, and his next court date is set for mid September. Earlier this month, he was granted a request for a laptop while in federal custody so he can prepare for trial. It isn't connected to the internet and he can only access case-related information, like documents and Gainer contributed to this report.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Luigi Mangione Musical Creators 'Glad' for Backlash: 'Humbling Experience'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Curtain call for Luigi: the Musical. The fringe production about the alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, has become one of the most talked-about theatre productions of the year. Before the show had even debuted, tickets had sold out, and there had been headline after headline about its mere existence. The subject matter is polarizing, as while some took no issue with a musical exploring one of the most covered and contentious criminal cases in recent history, some felt it was too soon, and others thought it risked glamorizing Mangione. In December of 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside of a hotel in Manhattan. What followed was a highly publicized nationwide manhunt, which culminated in Mangione's arrest in a Pennsylvania McDonald's. Mangione is charged with 11 counts, including first-degree murder "in furtherance of an act of terrorism"; two counts of second-degree murder; two counts of stalking; and a firearms offense. Federal prosecutors have announced their intent to seek the death penalty in Mangione's case. He has pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges as well as terrorism charges. Since his arrest, the 27-year-old has been at the center of frenzied discourse both on and offline. The case and his arrest have reignited a debate about healthcare in America, and Mangione himself has been upheld as everything from a folk hero to a martyr and a sex symbol. Merchandise, including pint glasses carrying the phrase, "Deny, Defend, Depose," the words reportedly carved into ammunition casings near where Thompson was shot, has been sold. There have been Mangione t-shirts and multiple murals painted of him, not to mention the crowds of supporters at his court dates. Mangione is now incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, alongside Sean Diddy Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried is the co-founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence. Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in his sex-trafficking trial, but not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking. He remains detained at MDC, Brooklyn. The trio of these three high-profile incarcerated men is where the Mangione musical gets its inspiration. A surreal prison satire, the musical was written by Nova Bradford, Caleb Zeringue, Arielle Johnson and Andre Margatini. So far, it has starred Jonny Stein as Luigi, but actor Matthew Solomon is taking over for the next run of shows. Margatini plays Bankman-Fried, Zeringue plays the role of Sargeant De Larosa, and Janée Lucas plays the role of Combs. Photo-Illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Mariana Garcia/SharkPartyMedia The show is now headed to the Edinburgh Fringe for a limited run. Ahead of opening night, Newsweek spoke to Margatini and Zeringue for an exclusive interview on making the Mangione musical. 'A Humbling Experience' The response to the musical has perhaps not been surprising. Headlines have billed it as "Pro-Luigi," asked if it is "too soon," and said it is "pushing the boundaries of musical theatre." The court of public opinion is split, too. A post on X from the account @MAGAResource describing the musical as a "brazen display of left-wing depravity," and "trivializing a heinous murder," has been viewed over 300,000 times. A TikTok video from the account @thefatsycline, describing the musical as "brilliant," the cast as "fantastic," and the social commentary as "divine," has been viewed over 150,000 times. Left to Right: Andre Margatini as Sam Bankman Fried, Janée Lucas as Sean Diddy Combs and Jonny Stein as Luigi Mangione in Luigi: the Musical. Left to Right: Andre Margatini as Sam Bankman Fried, Janée Lucas as Sean Diddy Combs and Jonny Stein as Luigi Mangione in Luigi: the Musical. Mariana Garcia, Luigi: the Musical Asked about the criticism that the musical has received, Margatini told Newsweek "We're quite glad to see that kind of feedback." Pointing to the response to the Mangione case, Margatini said, "People are right to be wondering whether it's too soon for this kind of narrative, but we should also be asking that about how we consumed it and distributed it with social media in the immediate aftermath." "It feels too soon, but we're living in an age of too soon," Margatini said. The musical itself hit the internet like a supernova, instantly going viral. "We did one interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, and then my face was on Laura Ingraham," Zeringue told Newsweek. "It was a very surreal moment," Zeringue said, before describing it as "a humbling experience." Following the press attention, the team took a purposeful step back from the media. "We realised the most important thing to us is to make sure that the art is working and that we create the best piece of art that we can for the world," Zeringue said, adding that he is "very proud," of the team for "taking that step back to try to maintain the integrity of the art." In the face of the intense attention the musical received, Zeringue said they had to "grow up very fast." "I had a suspicion that this might strike a chord with certain outlets," Zeringue said, but likened the real-life experience of it to a kind of "twisted reality." For Margatini, the most shocking thing was that when they went viral, "No one, not even our friends of family, had seen the musical. No one had read it. No one had seen it." "It was quite shocking just to see how quickly one article telephoned into another article," Maragatini said. "It was quite telling and eye-opening to really be at the middle of that because it was so fabricated." 'A Disturbing and Fascinating Moment in our American Culture' The response to the Mangione case has been both endless and multifaceted. Across all spheres of the internet, you'll find takes on both sides of the political spectrum that are either vehemently against or in support of Mangione. What they have in common is their loud and impassioned nature. Andre Margatini as Sam Bankman Fried in Luigi the Musical. Andre Margatini as Sam Bankman Fried in Luigi the Musical. Mariana Garcia, Luigi: the Musical For Margatini, the thing that was the most interesting about the case was the cultural conversation immediately after. They described this to Newsweek as a "Disturbing and fascinating moment in our American culture." "We're inundated with gun violence all of the time," Margatini said. "Very few shootings get massive attention because there's just so many of them." For Margatini, irrespective of how a person may feel about Mangione himself, "The fact that there were so many conversations warranted attention." As for why they believe the case resonated in the way that it did, Margatini attributes this to the intersection of discourse about gun violence and the healthcare system. "We're at this moment in time where virality is part of how we communicate," they said. Margatini said that the image of Mangione was "rapidly moving around the Internet in such a hugely uncontrollable way that we were intentionally slowing down that conversation." The fact that the musical is about Mangione has led to many assuming that it is pro-Mangione, a narrative that assumes guilt by association. The truth, though, is much more complex. Part of the about section of the Mangione musical website reads: "Luigi: the Musical doesn't glorify violence, it interrogates it. Beneath the absurdity and punchlines lies a serious critique of how violence is packaged, sold, and consumed in American media." "The majority of the musical is telling this narrative story of a potentially motivating backstory for Luigi," Margatini said. But the musical pivots. "Our last song is an alarming portrayal of what it means for us to hold up some sort of vigilantism as a solution to systemic violence," Margatini said. "The musical takes a turn in the very last number that is eerie and it's uncomfortable... it asks the question, what kind of world are we living that we have turned someone into a vigilante to solve this systemic issue." The musical was inspired by the fact that Mangione, Combs, and Bankman-Fried were all incarcerated in the same facility, a setup so strange that you couldn't write it. While the show explores ideas around violence and vigilantism, it also explores ideas around fame and celebrity. Caleb Zeringue as the Guard in Luigi, the Musical Caleb Zeringue as the Guard in Luigi, the Musical Mariana Garcia, Luigi the Musical "Celebrities can kind of sometimes stand in for something that feels like, deity light or some sort of untouchable figure," Zeringue told Newsweek. "We are sometimes drawn to packaged narratives that can help us have a clear-cut understanding of what's going on in the world, because we're all trying to create a sense of meaning, especially in an age where we're kind of inundated with information all of the time." "There's one lyric that I think illustrates this pretty well in the final song, 'Our institutions are too complex to understand how things connect,'" Zeringue said. 'Just because we're making a comedy doesn't mean we don't take it seriously' Pointing to the response that the Mangione case has had, Zeringue told Newsweek, "One thing we're proud of right now is using art to help the world process these emotions." But there is one element of the musical he is firm on: "Just because we're making a comedy doesn't mean we don't take it seriously," he told Newsweek, adding, "We really try to interrogate the sides of all of what people feel towards Luigi," Zeringue said. Jonny Stein as Luigi Mangione and Caleb Zeringue as the Guard on stage in Luigi: the Musical. Jonny Stein as Luigi Mangione and Caleb Zeringue as the Guard on stage in Luigi: the Musical. Mariana Garcia, Luigi: The Musical Zeringue said that his character in the musical, the guard, has "complex emotions that we think is a mirror to what the world is going through around the circumstances with the case." "I am very grateful that I think we were lucky enough as artists to create a mirror, to society," Zeringue said. "We don't want to give answers. We just want people to feel kind of confused and ask themselves more questions whenever they leave when they came in." And for the team, this is only the beginning. Zeringue told Newsweek that beyond exploring venues in New York and Los Angeles to stage the show, they're looking at creating their own production company to potentially make a second half of this musical, or other projects entirely. "We have so many amazingly talented people on this team and now that we've found each other, I can only imagine we're going to have plenty of art to be making and sharing," Margatini told Newsweeek. Luigi: The Musical will be showing at Just The Tonic, Just The Club at the Edinburgh Fringe from Tuesday, August 19 to Saturday, August 23.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Cash might be the new way to reduce children's deaths
'This is easily the biggest impact on child survival that I've seen from an intervention that was designed to alleviate poverty,' said Harsha Thirumurthy, an economist at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the work. The decline in infant mortality is a 'showstopping result,' he said. Advertisement The outcomes suggest that delivering even smaller amounts of money to families — especially those that live near a hospital — immediately before or after the birth of a child might allow women to seek medical care and drastically improve their children's chances of survival. The study was published on Monday by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up More than 100 low- and middle-income countries have explored so-called cash transfers, especially after the pandemic began. Generally, the experiments have found that giving money to poor families improves school attendance, nutrition, and use of health services. Misuse of the funds — spending them on alcohol, gambling, or otherwise wasting them — has proved to be a minor concern, said Edward Miguel, a development economist at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leader of the new study. Advertisement But most cash transfer programs were not large enough, involved too little money, or did not track the recipients for long enough to home in on details, he said. In this case, the nonprofit group GiveDirectly — which, as its name suggests, helps individual donors send money directly to people living in poverty — provided the cash transfers. Between 2014-17, GiveDirectly provided $1,000 in three installments over eight months to more than 10,500 poor households in Siaya County, Kenya. The amount covered roughly 75 percent of the recipients' average expenses for a year. The donation was unconditional; families were selected at random to receive money and were given no suggestions on how to spend it. An independent team of researchers, including Miguel and his colleagues at UC Berkeley and Oxford University in Britain, then examined the effects. Over a decade, the researchers conducted four census surveys, collecting data on births, deaths, employment, and other factors in more than 650 villages. They compared data from households that received the funds with those that did not. In a subset of more than 10,000 families — only some of which had received the cash — the researchers went even deeper, asking about details of health behaviors such as seeking prenatal care. Consistent with other programs, the team saw an effect on poverty. Every dollar transferred generated $2.50 in business activity, observable more than a mile away. The families that received cash did better even during the COVID-19 pandemic and a drought. But the biggest gains were in child mortality, which the researchers had not expected. And the improvements became obvious immediately. 'When you come across an intervention that reduces child mortality by almost a half, you cannot understate the impact,' said Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta, a physician at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and a senior research adviser at GiveDirectly. Advertisement When the women in the villages didn't have money, they were more likely to skip meals and prenatal appointments, perform hard labor long after it had become unsafe, and give birth at home rather than at a hospital. The infusion of cash helped pregnant women rest and deliver safely, the researchers said. The findings are particularly relevant as the United States and other countries have slashed foreign aid, putting children's lives at risk, Miguel said. The results show that even individual donors 'can do something very meaningful with a limited amount of money,' he said. The size of the study allowed the researchers to dig deeper into the reasons for the improvements. They collected geolocation data on clinics, dispensaries, and hospitals in and near the study area, and recorded how long it took people to get to hospitals. The money made the biggest difference when given to pregnant women who lived close to hospitals with a physician. And funds had the biggest effect when given right before or after the birth of the child. 'Ultimately, this study really shows that the best way to save the life of a child is to give a mother money at the time when they need it the most,' Laker-Oketta said. There were other findings. Children in families who received the cash were 44 percent less likely to go to bed hungry. Pregnant women given funds worked half as much in their third trimester and the months after birth, compared with other women. Advertisement 'I'm quite confident each of the things we emphasize is playing a role,' Miguel said. 'But it's hard to quantify exactly how much.' One shortcoming of giving the money in a big chunk is that as the cash dwindles, so do the benefits. Regular installments of smaller amounts may better sustain the benefits, said Thirumurthy, the University of Pennsylvania economist. 'Having that kind of steady infusion of cash would give you more steady results,' he said. 'Maybe not as dramatic, but more reliable.' This article originally appeared in
