Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024, is expected to plead guilty to federal stalking charges on Friday, according to The New York Times. The plea would come just weeks before his state murder trial is set to begin.
Mangione is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court at 11 a.m. for a hearing where he is expected to enter the plea, the Times reported. The specific charges to which he would plead guilty were not immediately clear, and sources cautioned that he could still change his mind at the last minute.
The development follows an emergency conference in his federal case, fueling speculation that a plea deal is being negotiated. Federal murder charges against Mangione were dismissed earlier this year, but stalking charges remained.
Mangione's state trial is set to begin on Sept. 8. He faces multiple counts of second-degree murder, which carry a potential sentence of 25 years to life. A guilty plea in federal court could complicate or jeopardize the state case, according to the Times.
On Tuesday, Mangione appeared in state court for a pre-trial hearing, where the judge ruled that the jury will remain anonymous. Defense lawyers have raised concerns about what they call “partial exclusion” of the press, arguing that limiting media access could threaten Mangione's constitutional right to a public trial. They noted that the court's media plan does not provide an overflow courtroom, restricts coverage of jury selection, and allows only 68 journalists general access to the proceedings. Prosecutors responded that they have no role in selecting which reporters attend.
In a sudden reversal, Mangione's legal team recently withdrew plans to assert a psychiatric defense, which had claimed he was under extreme emotional disturbance during the shooting. If accepted by a jury, that defense could have reduced a murder conviction to manslaughter. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the killing.
Thompson, 50, was shot from behind by a masked gunman as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group's annual investor conference. Police said the ammunition bore the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose,” echoing a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of Manhattan.
The case has drawn intense public and political attention, with debates over healthcare industry practices and the justice system. Mangione's state trial will proceed with an anonymous jury, a decision that has sparked further legal wrangling over press access. For more on the jury ruling, see our coverage of the anonymous jury decision.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the federal plea could reshape the trajectory of the case. Legal experts note that a federal guilty plea might include cooperation or other terms that could influence the state prosecution. The Times report suggests that the plea could jeopardize the state case, though the exact implications remain unclear.
The hearing on Friday will be closely watched, as it may signal how Mangione's legal strategy is evolving. With the state trial looming, the outcome of the federal plea could have significant consequences for both the prosecution and the defense.
