Federal Judge Keeps Luigi Mangione Assassination Trial on Fall Schedule Despite Defense Delay Bid
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A federal judge in New York rejected a request by accused assassin Luigi Mangione’s defense team to delay his federal trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, keeping the case on track for jury selection in the fall and possible opening statements on Oct. 26 or Nov. 2. Judge Margaret Garnett said she would not let her courtroom be “held hostage” by the timetable of a separate New York state murder trial, which is scheduled to start June 8, and stressed that her focus is on ensuring a fair federal trial regardless of what happens in state court. Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo argued for several additional months to prepare after the state proceeding, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Gentile countered that both prosecutions rely on the same core facts and witnesses and that logistical issues could be handled by adjusting jury questionnaires originally drafted for a capital case, since the death penalty is no longer on the table. Garnett indicated she does not view the federal case as especially complex, but acknowledged concern that a highly publicized state trial could complicate federal jury selection. Mangione faces multiple state and federal charges over the December 2024 shooting of Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, an attack prosecutors describe as a politically motivated assassination that has drawn intense media and public attention.