• Mangione pleads guilty:Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “I shot Mr. Thompson and he died,” he told the court. “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
• State trial:Mangione’s state trial is due to begin next month, but following today’s plea, his lawyers filed a motion to dismissstate murder and weapons charges on double jeopardy grounds. Mangione previously pleaded not guilty in both his federal and state cases. In remarks after the hearing, one of Mangione’s lawyers said prosecutors are trying to “punish him twice.”
• Inside the courtroom today:Mangione said he posed as an investor to find out information about the 2024 UnitedHealthcare conference in New York. Thompson’s widow and other family members became visibly emotional in court as Mangione spoke
• What happens next:Mangione’s sentencing in the federal case is set for December 18
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Luigi Mangione appears in court during a federal hearing in New York City on August 14, 2026.
We’re now getting a depiction of Luigi Mangione inside the courtroom in Manhattan from earlier today, thanks to a court sketch artist
Remember, cameras are not allowed in federal courtrooms
Luigi Mangione appears in court during a federal hearing in New York City on August 14, 2026.
Even though Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty today, it is still “very likely” that the federal judge will sentence him to life in prison or something close to it, former federal prosecutor Berit Berger told CNN
Because there was no plea deal with federal prosecutors, there is no set sentencing range for the judge. “Federal judges have vast options at sentencing. You can sentence up to life in prison,” Elliot Williams, another former US prosecutor, said earlier on CNN
Berger pointed out that, as the judge considers what sentence to give, she can consider conduct not only in connection with the stalking charges to which he pled guilty today, but also “all of the conduct that he did that entire day, the days leading up to it and the days after it.”
Mangione’s plea today was also an attempt to dismiss the state charges against him, which include second-degree murder, but Berger predicted that his sentencing from the federal case will be long whether or not the state case continues
Inside the courtroom where Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty
2:26• Source:
CNN
Inside the courtroom where Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty
2:26
In a federal courtroom today, Luigi Mangione told the judge how he used a 3D printer to make part of the gun he used to shoot and kill healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
The details and the admission of the crime garnered an emotional reaction from Thompson’s mother, widow and several other family members who were sitting in the front row
The question of whether the state case against Luigi Mangione can proceed following his guilty plea in federal court today will come down to a “fight” over a tricky legal question, according to CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams
While the US Constitution says no person can be tried twice for the same offense, “New York state law goes even further than that, and says that if two crimes are from the same criminal transaction, they can’t be prosecuted,” Williams said
Based on that law, Mangione’s attorneys could argue the federal stalking charges – to which Mangione pleaded guilty to in court today – “are themselves the same extended criminal act” as the one at the center of the state case, Williams said
“That’s going to be a legal fight,” he added
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and weapons charges in the state case
Luigi Mangione’s defense has filed a motion to dismiss most of the state charges against him related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s attorney, asked the state court to dismiss the second-degree murder and weapons possession charges against her client, according to the filing
That accounts for seven of the eight state charges, with the surviving charge being for the possession of an allegedly fraudulent identification card “which took place on a different date and location than the conduct in the remaining counts,” the motion says
The othersshould be dismissed because Mangione pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges related to Thompson’s death, the filing argues, contending “the dual prosecutions arising out of the same event” violated Mangione’s rights
The motion alleges that the New York County District Attorney’s Office and the US Department of Justice improperly coordinated their efforts to ensure the state’s case would go to trial before the federal case in order to “avoid double jeopardy protections.”
Federal and state prosecutors “have sensationalized this case and misapplied statutes in an effort to overcharge him,” the motion alleges
A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it is “prepared to litigate the defense motions.”
Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of Thompson, ahead of the state case that is set to go to trial on September 8
This post has been updated with additional information from the motion
US attorney for the Southern District of New York Jamie Mcdonald speaks during a press conference outside federal court in New York on Friday.
Prosecutors said there was no agreement with the defense related to Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea in federal court today
This means he chose to plead guilty to the charges he faced in the indictment with no incentive from a deal with prosecutors, Jamie McDonald, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said during a news conference after the hearing
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is “prepared to litigate the defense motions,” according to a spokesperson, adding that it “remains committed to seeking justice” for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and his family
Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He will remain in federal custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 18
The plea raises questions about how the state case, which was set to go to trial in a few weeks, will proceed. The defense has filed a motion to dismiss that case
Here’s what to know:
- In court, Mangione spoke quickly and used few words to admit what he had done: “I shot Mr. Thompson and he died.” He also said that he “knew what I was doing was illegal.”
- Mangione has accepted “full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson” with his guilty plea, Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said. “He believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life,” she said, reiterating statements Mangione made in court about severe back pain and frustrations navigating the healthcare system.
- Judge MargaretGarnett explained to Mangione that he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Mangione’s lawyer confirmed to the judge that there is no plea agreement with the government, which means they have not agreed on a sentencing range.
- Prosecutors also reviewed some of the evidence they have against Mangione, including security footage. Prosecutor Dominic Gentile explained the elements of charges they would have needed to prove at trial, including that “the defendant’s conduct resulted in Brian Thompson’s death.”
- New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said today “is an important moment of accountability.” In remarks outside the court, prosecutors said Mangione’s case underscores that violence is not a legitimate way to advance any political or social belief.
- Thompson’s mother, widow and several other family members were sitting in the front row of the courtroom and were visibly emotional during moments of the hearing. After the court proceedings, Thompon’s family called the plea “an important step toward justice” in a statement. A crowd of journalists and members of the public gathered outside court, though it was noticeably smaller than the throngs that gathered for past hearings.
CNN’s Aditi Sangal, Kara Scannell, Alisha Ebrahimji, Nicki Brown and Lauren del Valle contributed reporting to this post
Luigi Mangione legal team says his guilty plea today triggers New York’s double jeopardy protections, which is why his defense team filed motion to dismiss the state charges against him, Karen Friedman Agnifilo said, arguing Mangione has been treated unfairly
Noting that New York does not allow a person to be prosecuted for the same crime twice, Agnifilo said, “We just filed our motion in state court explaining why the state charges must be dismissed under New York’s double jeopardy protections.”
Flags fly at half-staff outside of the office of UnitedHealthcare, the day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson was shot dead, in Minnetonka, Minnesota, December 5, 2024.
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson “devastated everyone who knew and loved him,” a spokesperson for the health insurance company said in a statement today following Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea
“We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian’s murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the spokesperson added
Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges
3:29• Source:
CNN
Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges
3:29
The widow of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and other family members were visibly emotional in court as Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty today
Thompson’s widow “was breathing heavily, clasping the arm of the woman sitting next to her,” CNN’s Kara Scannell reports. “You could see the family members fighting back tears, holding on to each other’s hands.”
Family members also had visible reactions when the judge asked prosecutors whether Thompson “was aware what was happening” in the time between the first and second bullet hitting him. The prosecutor responded that he was
“That caused some gasps from the family members that were sitting in the front row, the pain of this experience quite visible to them,” Scannell said
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks to the media outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday.
New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said today “is an important moment of accountability” in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
“My thoughts remain first and foremost with Mr. Thompson’s family and everyone who knew and loved him,” she said
Tisch also commended the “extraordinary police work that brought us here.”
She also sent a message “to those who idolize Luigi Mangione.”
In a news conference immediately following Luigi Mangione’s hearing in federal court, prosecutors said Mangione’s case underscores that violence is not a legitimate way to advance any political or social belief
Paulette Thompson, wife of late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, walks outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday.
Brian Thompson’s family released a statement following today’s guilty plea by Luigi Mangione in the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing:
Following Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea in the federal case against him, his defense team has just filed a motion in state court to dismiss state charges, according to attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo
That trial is slated to begin on September 8. Mangione previously pleaded not guilty in both his federal and state cases
Luigi Mangione accepts “full responsibility,” his attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said Friday.
0:19• Source:
CNN
Luigi Mangione accepts “full responsibility,” his attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said Friday.
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Luigi Mangione has accepted “full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson” with his guilty plea, Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said
“Today is a solemn and significant day. With today’s guilty plea, Mr. Mangione has accepted full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson arising from the events of December 4, 2024, outside of the UnitedHealthcare investor conference here in Midtown Manhattan. It was a single, tragic event. Yet he’s being prosecuted twice for the same conduct,” she said
“As Luigi explained in court today, he endured years of severe, debilitating pain following a broken back while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems. Like the thousands of people who have reached out since this tragedy to share their own experiences, he believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life,” she said at today’s news conference after Mangione’s hearing concluded
When addressing his actions in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione spoke so fast that the judge asked him to slow down
Mangione used few words to admit what he had done
“I shot Mr. Thompson and he died,” he said. “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
Luigi Mangione left the courtroom after he plead guilty and the hearing concluded. He will remain in federal custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 18
Luigi Mangione’s sentencing in the federal case is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, December 18
Judge Margaret Garnett said if either side intends to present live witnesses at sentencing, she would like to be notified two weeks ahead
Judge Margaret Garnett just asked Luigi Mangione how he pleads to counts 1 and 2 of the indictment. Mangione says, “guilty.”
Garnett said she accepted the guilty plea
