William Boothby, who manages President Donald Trump’s political appointees at the health department, was accused in a wrongful death lawsuit of punching a college student who was later found dead.
Boothby serves as the White House liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services, according to a report published Friday by Politico. He manages nearly 300 political appointees at the health department and its sub-agencies.
The case centered on Vincenzo “Vinny” Lirosi, a University of New Hampshire sophomore who fought with several fraternity members, including Boothby, after a night of drinking, according to court records and police reports obtained by Politico.
Vincenzo Lirosi’s mother, Robin Lirosi, filed a wrongful death suit in Strafford County Superior Court in late 2023, the outlet said. She named Boothby, the Sigma Chi chapter at the university, other fraternity members and the bar where her son had been drinking.
The suit alleged that Boothby pushed Vincenzo Lirosi to the floor, prompting other fraternity brothers to attack him. Boothby said Vincenzo Lirosi responded by attacking a fraternity brother. The suit states the fight “had become a full-out brawl” with Boothby and three other fraternity brothers against Vincenzo Lirosi.
“During this brawl, Boothby punched Lirosi in the head, leaving him dazed,” the lawsuit explains, adding that he appeared not to know where he was.
Vincenzo Lirosi was later seen stumbling away from the fraternity house, according to the suit, and was found dead in a small body of water in the woods more than a day later, Politico reported. An autopsy ruled the death accidental, caused by drowning and acute intoxication, with a blood alcohol level of .215.
No one faced criminal charges, the outlet reported.
The suit said Vincenzo Lirosi bought 17 alcoholic drinks at the bar in less than four hours and drank at least nine of them, citing a state liquor commission investigation, the Associated Press reported in 2023.
Robin Lirosi blamed the fraternity because no one there “took any steps to ensure his safety,” the suit said. Boothby told police that a drunk Vincenzo Lirosi had arrived uninvited at the fraternity house and was told to leave, but that things “escalated” before he did, according to the reports obtained by Politico.
He pushed Vincenzo Lirosi to get him out of the house, then turned to helping a fraternity brother whom Vincenzo Lirosi had allegedly punched, Boothby told police, the reports show.
Records indicate Boothby initially told officers that a fight broke out but wanted to speak with an attorney before answering more questions.
He joined the health department as deputy White House liaison on Jan. 20, 2025, Politico reported, citing two people granted anonymity to avoid retaliation.
On Feb. 12, 2025, he was removed as a defendant in an out-of-court settlement, according to a court document cited in the report. The docket was marked “Judgment for neither party; no interest; no costs,” the outlet said.
The Trump administration promoted him to White House liaison in July 2025, the report said. His financial disclosure shows he previously served as national field director and get-out-the-vote director for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign.
He also worked as a committee aide for the Maine State Legislature and for MAHA Action, an activist group that supports Kennedy, Politico reported.
A lawyer for Boothby and the university’s Sigma Chi chapter declined to comment, and Boothby referred questions to the health department, the report said. Robin Lirosi and her lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.
“Every member of the Department remains focused on carrying out Secretary Kennedy’s priorities,” the department said in a statement.
Seven months after Boothby left the case, Robin Lirosi and the remaining defendants settled as well, the outlet reported. The case is no longer active.
“Our thoughts and prayers have been … with the Lirosi family,” Durham Police Chief Jack Dalton said when asked about Boothby’s role in the episode.
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