On September 16, 2025, the high-profile legal proceedings against Luigi Mangione—accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024—took a dramatic turn in a New York State courtroom. Judge Gregory Carro, presiding over the case, dismissed two terrorism-related charges, finding them legally insufficient. The decision, which instantly rippled through the packed courthouse and the crowd outside, has added fuel to a case already igniting fierce debate about justice, healthcare, and the political climate surrounding high-profile prosecutions.
According to JURIST, the dismissed charges included first-degree murder as an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as an act of terrorism. Judge Carro explained in his ruling, "There was no evidence presented that the defendant made any demands of government or sought any particular governmental policy change, let alone that he did so by intimidation or coercion." With the terrorism counts off the table, Mangione is no longer eligible for life without parole under New York law. Nevertheless, he still faces a second-degree murder charge—carrying a possible sentence of 25 years to life—along with multiple weapons offenses.
The legal wrangling didn’t stop with the terrorism charges. Mangione’s defense team, led by a cadre of seasoned attorneys, asked the court to pause the state case under the Dual Sovereignty Doctrine, arguing that the Double Jeopardy rule should prevent duplicate prosecutions in state and federal courts. Judge Carro, however, denied the request, citing the dual sovereignty principle that allows separate prosecutions for the same act by different jurisdictions. The Fifth Amendment, he noted, does not shield Mangione from facing both state and federal indictments.
In another twist, Judge Carro blocked prosecutors from using 120 pages of Mangione’s health records, which had been subpoenaed from his insurer, Aetna. The judge declined to decide whether the subpoena violated Mangione’s privacy under HIPAA, but the records remain off-limits—at least for now.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, in a brief response to the courtroom developments, stated, "We respect the Court’s decision and will proceed on the remaining nine counts, including Murder in the Second Degree…."
Mangione, who pleaded not guilty to all charges in December 2024, faces not only the New York state charges but also a federal indictment for interstate stalking and murder with a firearm equipped with a suppressor—a crime that could bring the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty to all federal counts. In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Mangione faces a suite of charges related to carrying an unlicensed, 3-D printed ghost gun, forgery, and providing false identification to police. Authorities say the weapon was equipped with a loaded Glock magazine holding six 9-mm full metal jacket rounds and a separate 9-mm hollow point round. Mangione has denied all Pennsylvania charges as well.
The legal drama has played out against a backdrop of intense public interest and activism. On September 16, as soon as the terrorism charges were dismissed, supporters rallied outside the courthouse, chanting "Free Luigi!" and linking Mangione’s case to broader concerns about healthcare affordability, judicial overreach, and constitutional rights. Demonstrators waved signs and recounted personal stories of lost loved ones and struggles with the healthcare system. Mason Alexander, a New York University student present at the rally, noted, "It would be hard to find jurors who haven’t been affected by healthcare denials, or don’t know someone who has." Alexander added that while he does not condone violence, he understands the frustration that can lead to such acts, recalling his own family’s hardships with medical bills.
Another protester, Breigh, carried a life-sized cardboard cutout of Mangione emblazoned with "STILL PRESUMED INNOCENT," explaining her dissatisfaction with media coverage and the presumption of guilt. "I want to bring light to the injustices of the healthcare system, the ways in which it is affecting everyday Americans," she said. Volunteers distributed a supporter-run newspaper, The Plot, which offered case updates and commentary on both healthcare struggles and perceived judicial injustice. One volunteer remarked, "The media sensationalized [coverage] and defamed him to sell clicks. They wouldn’t give him fair coverage, so we made our own." Others cited censorship on social media platforms as a reason for launching their own publication, claiming that posts about the case were repeatedly deleted or accounts banned.
In the days leading up to the hearing, activists projected messages onto Lower Manhattan buildings to highlight the deadly consequences of healthcare denials, including: "2,996 Americans died on 9/11" and "68,000+ Americans die EVERY YEAR from lack of affordable healthcare." Organizers People Over Profit NYC and The Illuminator told JURIST that the projections were intended to draw attention to the hearing and the larger issue of healthcare in America. Their statement read, "The unprecedented rush by the federal government to end the life of Mangione is a spectacle in itself, but the larger body count piles higher with every passing day and deserves notice… Over 26 million people in this country are uninsured, and millions more cannot afford to use the health insurance they have…"
The legal battle is far from over. Judge Carro scheduled the next hearing for December 1, 2025, though a trial date has yet to be set. Meanwhile, Mangione’s defense team filed a motion on September 20 asking a federal judge to dismiss the remaining charges, alleging that state and federal officials, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, violated Mangione’s constitutional rights and fatally prejudiced his chance for a fair trial. According to Reuters, the defense cited a December 2024 news conference at which officials failed to note Mangione’s presumption of innocence, and objected to Mangione being "perp walked" before television cameras—calling it an act "purely to dehumanize Mangione and [that] had no legitimate law enforcement purpose."
Much of the controversy now swirls around the federal prosecution’s pursuit of the death penalty. Mangione’s lawyers argue that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to seek capital punishment was "political, arbitrary, capricious, a breach of established death penalty protocol." They point to Bondi’s statement on Fox News that she chose to pursue the death penalty because "[Mangione] is charged with hunting down a CEO, a father of two, a married man." The defense contends that Bondi issued her directive before Mangione was even indicted, further undermining the legitimacy of the process.
Legal experts have echoed these concerns. Robin Maher, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center, told JURIST that the federal government’s move "suggests that the death penalty is being used here to achieve some sort of political purpose." Some experts believe the case should have remained a straightforward state-level murder prosecution, rather than being elevated to the federal courts to maximize penalties.
Inside the courtroom, the atmosphere has been tense and closely watched. On the day of the hearing, only 24 members of the public were allowed in, with the rest forming lines outside that reportedly rivaled the crowds at Donald Trump’s legal proceedings. Mangione, appearing in a tan prison jumpsuit and shackles, maintained a somber demeanor throughout, rarely looking up from his notes.
As the legal and political saga continues, the case of Luigi Mangione has become a lightning rod for debates about justice, healthcare, media coverage, and the use of the death penalty in America. The next hearing is set for December 1, but the reverberations of this case will likely be felt for months—if not years—to come.
