What’s New
The transition from the administration of President Joe Biden to that of President-elect Donald Trump could have an impact on the federal prosecution of Luigi Mangione, according to legal analysts.
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s transition team and Mangione’s attorney for comment via email on Wednesday morning.
Why It Matters
Mangione, 26, allegedly shot and killed Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, as he walked outside a New York City hotel on December 4. Federal prosecutors have levied multiple charges against the accused, including one that could carry the death penalty.
Trump has spoken out against Mangione and also promised this week to “vigorously” pursue death penalty cases when his Justice Department takes over next year. The death penalty remarks came after Biden commuted the sentences of all but three federal prisoners on death row.
What To Know
In addition to the federal charges, Mangione faces six charges in New York state that carry maximum penalties ranging from one year to life in prison. He also faces relatively less serious charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested, for possession of a fraudulent document (ID) and possession of a gun and silencer.
While many, like Trump, have expressed condemnation of the accused shooter’s actions, many others have voiced support for Mangione and criticism of the nation’s health insurance industry. The accused’s good looks have also buoyed his support, with some dubbing him a “sex symbol” online.
Protesters have showed up in support of Mangione at his court case, many holding signs or wearing shirts that slam the nation’s health care problems. While many have said they don’t support violence, they have also said they have difficulty feeling empathy for the wealthy CEO of an insurance company. They often cite denial of health care claims, saying these decisions result in direct harm and even death for a large number of Americans.
What People Are Saying
Mercedes Colwin, a criminal defense attorney, was asked about Trump’s death penalty comments by CNN on Tuesday: “Certainly, that’s going to be a question raised by the defense, that there were reportings of the president-elect making comments about the death penalty being imposed…. That has to be vetted to that jury. The jury has to make an acknowledgement that, one, they did hear the comments and it doesn’t impact their thinking at all and they can still sit and be a fair and impartial juror in that trial…. So comments from the president-elect that may impact their thinking. That’s something that absolutely has to be vetted.”
Elie Honig, CNN senior legal analyst, told CNN on Tuesday: “It’s hard to predict what they’re going to do with Mangione here. Most of the time, when the feds seek a death sentence, you have some sort of extenuated circumstance, you have multiple murders, you have some element of torture or some other horrific act. It’s also going to matter that we’re going to have the Trump administration making this decision, not the Biden administration.”
Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday: “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!”
Earlier this month, Trump criticized the support Mangione has been receiving: “How people can like this guy, that’s a sickness actually. It seems like there’s a certain appetite for him. I don’t get it…. It was cold-blooded, just a cold-blooded, horrible killing. That’s very, very bad, especially the way that it was done.”
What Happens Next
Trump takes office on January 20, and it remains to be seen how the Justice Department could handle the federal case against Mangione. Thus far, federal prosecutors have appeared to take a hard-line stance, with Mangione’s attorney Karen Agnifilo calling their approach “highly unusual” and “confusing.”
The post Luigi Mangione’s Trial Could Be Affected by Donald Trump—Legal Analysts appeared first on Newsweek.
