UPDATED: Aug. 14 at 12:30 p.m. ET
The attorneys representing Luigi Mangione spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after Friday's hearing, and said he "has accepted full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson."
Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said that Mangione had endured "years of severe, debilitating pain" after breaking his back and struggled to navigate the healthcare system. "Thousands" of people have reached out since the Dec. 4 murder to share their own stories, she said.
"He believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life," Agnifilo said.
An outpouring of rage and vitriol against health insurers and the healthcare industry followed Thompson's death, and Mangione has garnered a significant following since his arrest.
Agnifilo also confirmed that Mangione's defense team has filed a motion in New York state court to get the charges against him dismissed. Legal experts had projected that part of the reason for the guilty plea in federal court was to avert the state case under double jeopardy.
She said that in facing two legal prosecutions over the same crime, Mangione has "been treated differently from every over defendant charged with this offense in New York."
"It was a single tragic event, yet he's being prosecuted twice for the same conduct," Angifilo said.
A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said in a statement that the prosecutors remain prepared to move forward with the state case.
"We are encouraged that Mr. Thompson’s family received a measure of accountability today," the spokesperson said. "The Manhattan D.A.’s Office remains committed to seeking justice for Mr. Thompson and his family."
Jamie McDonald, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a press conference following the hearing that while Mangione has pleaded guilty to the two federal stalking charges, there is no plea agreement in place that determines what his sentence may be.
Mangione faces a potential sentence to life in prison for the federal crimes. The judge said Friday during the hearing that if the state case moves forward and he is convicted there, the punishment could be tacked onto the federal sentence.
"We are free to seek the maximum penalty under the law," McDonald said.
Thompson's family said in a statement that the plea "marks an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family," CNN reported.
"While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable," the family said. "Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime."
UnitedHealth Group echoed the sentiment in a statement, saying Thompson's "life was cut short by an act of violence that devastated everyone who loved and knew him."
"We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian's murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time," the company said.
UPDATED: Aug. 14 at 11:50 a.m. ET
Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges, and that plea has been accepted by the judge, the New York Times reports.
In a sudden court hearing Friday morning, Mangione admitted to traveling to New York City to murder UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, after researching the company's investor day. He said that he reached out to an executive at the company to gain more information about the Dec. 4, 2024 event, posing as an investor, the NYT reported.
Mangione said he was motivated in the killing by experiencing years of back pain and struggling to navigate the health insurance system. He was not a UnitedHealthcare member, per previous media reports.
"I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan,” Mangione said in court, per the Times. "I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal."
Mangione was not sentenced on Friday, and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for Dec. 18, CNN reported. He faces a life sentence for the federal charges.
Mangione also faces charges in New York state court, with the trial set to begin in September. Legal experts have suggested that pleading guilty in federal court could allow him to avoid the state charges on double jeopardy.
PUBLISHED: Aug. 14 at 11:15 a.m. ET
The attorneys representing the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson told a judge Friday morning he intends to plead guilty in the federal trial against him, according to a report from CNN.
Luigi Mangione, 28, of Maryland, was charged in Thompson's Dec. 4, 2024 slaying after a five-day manhunt. Thompson was killed in New York City on the date of UnitedHealth Group's investor day, which he was slated to attend.
Mangione faces charges in both federal and New York state court. The hearing Friday morning was a surprise addition to the docket, and media reports from most national outlets cited sources suggested he would plead guilty to the federal charges.
In federal court, he faces two charges of stalking that led to Thompson's death, which could carry a life sentence. Federal terrorism charges, which carried the death penalty, were tossed earlier by the courts.
The state case, where Mangione faces second-degree murder charges, is set to start in early September. Legal experts have suggested that accepting a plea deal in the federal case could allow him to avoid the state case due to double jeopardy, the New York Times reported.
CNN also reported that Thompson's family attended the hearing on Friday morning, the first time that they have appeared in court during Mangione's ongoing legal case.