Luigi Mangione expected in court as plea deal reports swirl in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing case

Luigi Mangione is set to appear before a Manhattan federal judge on Friday after a hastily scheduled hearing fueled speculation that he may plead guilty in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson. NBC News and the New York Times reported Thursday that Mangione is expected to plead guilty in the federal stalking case, which alleges he crossed state lines by bus to stalk and kill Thompson in December 2024.

Federal prosecutors say Mangione used a cellphone, the internet, interstate highways and a hostel catering to out-of-state customers to plan and carry out the attack outside a Manhattan hotel, where Thompson was shot as he walked to an investor conference. The state case separately charges Mangione with murder and weapons offenses. If Mangione pleads guilty in federal court, his attorneys could move to dismiss the state case, arguing that a second prosecution would violate double jeopardy. State prosecutors, however, have already objected to the possibility, with assistant district attorney Joel Seidemann saying any plea must account for the seriousness of the offenses and the impact on the victim’s family.

The expected plea comes after several legal setbacks for the defense. In January, US district judge Margaret Garnett ruled that prosecutors could use evidence found in Mangione’s backpack, including a 3D-printed pistol matching the murder weapon and a notebook in which Mangione allegedly described his intent to kill an insurance executive. The judge also removed the possibility of the death penalty. In June, Mangione’s lawyers briefly announced a psychiatric defense in the state case before reversing course the next day.

The case has drawn intense public attention. After a five-day manhunt, Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. While many Americans condemned the violence, others turned Mangione into a folk hero, raising more than $1.5 million for his legal defense and appearing at court hearings in green clothing and “Free Luigi” shirts. The case has also spotlighted deep frustration with the US for-profit healthcare system, where private insurers control coverage. Researchers say some of the public reaction reflects anger over rising costs and denied claims.

Mangione’s state murder trial is scheduled for September 8, while the federal trial on stalking charges, which carries a possible life sentence, is set for January. It remains unclear which specific charges he might plead guilty to on Friday, and he could still change his mind in court.