NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has enlisted the help of a well-known defense attorney as the Manhattan District Attorney works to extradite him from Pennsylvania to face the charges. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, is facing serious legal battles, and now has Karen Friedman Agnifilo on his legal team.
Agnifilo, who has a notable background as a former top deputy in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, will handle Mangione’s defense. Her law firm, Agnifilo Intrater LLP, announced on Friday that she has been appointed to represent Mangione but will refrain from making any comments regarding the ongoing case.
Mangione, 26, was apprehended on Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer recognized him from police descriptions of the man sought for the December 4 murder of Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Police discovered him with a firearm, a mask, and written materials that suggest his involvement in the ambush that occurred outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where Thompson was attending an annual investor conference for his company.
Currently, Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania, facing initial charges related to gun possession and forgery. His arrest took place approximately 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) away from New York City.
In Pennsylvania, Mangione’s attorney, Thomas Dickey, has urged the public not to rush to conclusions about the case, indicating that his client plans to challenge the extradition to New York. However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg noted that there are signs Mangione might be reconsidering this stance. “We will continue to move forward down both paths and will be prepared whether he decides to waive extradition or fight against it,” Bragg stated during an unrelated press conference held in Times Square.
Following Mangione’s arrest, the Manhattan DA’s office swiftly filed charges, including five counts that encompass intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
As the legal process continues, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has indicated her willingness to request intervention from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, potentially leading to the issuance of a governor’s warrant for Mangione’s extradition should he refuse to agree to move voluntarily.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, who previously served as Chief Assistant District Attorney from 2014 to 2021 and was in charge of the trial division, has frequently appeared on television as a legal analyst, co-hosted a podcast, and served as a legal advisor for the show “Law & Order.” Her husband and law partner, Mark Agnifilo, is currently representing Sean “Diddy” Combs in a high-profile federal sex trafficking case in Manhattan.
