In a new development regarding the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, the alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, has employed a new lawyer.
On December 14, 2024, Mangione employed the services of Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a well-known defense lawyer, to his legal team. This legal decision comes in the wake of a Manhattan prosecutor’s attempt to extradite him from Pennsylvania to face a murder charge.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, Mangione was detained by police as the main suspect in the Brian Thompson murder. Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, by a masked killer in Manhattan.
Mangione was arrested after a McDonald’s customer in Altoona, Pennsylvania, reported Mangione after observing a likeness to the alleged killer. Following his arrest, the police discovered implicating materials tying him to the ambush killing.
According to the police, the materials included a revolver, a mask, and notes. Thompson had arrived outside the New York Hilton Midtown for his company’s annual investor meeting when he was gunned down. The New York Police Department informed CBS News that there is no evidence Mangione was a UnitedHealthcare client.
Who Is Luigi Mangione’s New Lawyer?
Prior to heading a private practice, Karen Friedman Agnifilo was a high-ranking deputy in the Manhattan district attorney’s office. According to Agnifilo Intrater LLP, Agnifilo served as the second-in-command for DA Cyrus Vance for seven years.
Subsequently, after exiting the role, Agnifilo led her own department before becoming Chief of the Office’s Trial Division. In her twenty-year career at the Manhattan DA’s Office, Agnifilo served in various roles, including deputy chief of the sex crimes unit.
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According to a New York prosecutor, “She knows every corridor, every judge, and every clerk in the courthouse.” Consequently, experts think her extensive experience as a senior prosecutor will help her craft a defense strategy for Mangione.
Agnifilo, who earned a law degree from Georgetown Law, formerly worked as a legal commentator for CNN and the hit television show “Law and Order.” According to her bio, she has a three-decade background in criminal justice, litigation, and trials. Her bio highlights overseeing the creation of various units, including the Identity Theft Bureau, in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
When Mangione was detained in Pennsylvania, he had a false ID. The fraudulent documents might be used as evidence in judicial actions involving the shooting and his quick departure from New York. Agnifilo will discuss his actions as media requests for interviews and exclusives become rampant following the high media attention on the case.
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Is Luigi Mangione’s New Lawyer Connected to Diddy?
Among questions raised in recent days is the speculation of a connection between Mangione’s new lawyer and Diddy. Despite the extensive media coverage, this comes as no shock to the law firm, given its experience with taking Diddy as a client. Diddy was indicted in September 2024 on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Agnifilo’s husband and law partner, Marc Agnifilo, serves as Diddy’s defense attorney in his sensational federal case in Manhattan. Since his September 2024 arrest, Diddy has entered a not-guilty plea to federal charges of sex trafficking, prostitution, and racketeering.
On December 23, 2024, Mangione is scheduled to appear in court in Pennsylvania. Mangione is set for trial over charges linked to a 3-D pistol, a manifesto, and fake IDs found on him post-detention.
Although there have been several discussions about a possible extradition to New York, the order remains pending. On the other hand, Diddy is expected to appear in court as his trial will begin on May 5, 2024.
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Why Luigi Mangione’s Case Is Generating Mixed Reactions
Following Luigi Mangione’s arrest in Pennsylvania on December 9, 2024, there has been widespread public support for the alleged killer. In addition to messages of support for Mangione, several Americans have taken to several social media platforms to express dissatisfaction with the American healthcare system.
Since his arrest in December 2024, the hashtag “FreeLuigi” has been trending on all platforms. In addition to this, his Instagram account has amassed thousands of followers, reaching 21.5K. The positive reaction to Mangione’s alleged actions and Thomspon’s fatal shooting has only further illustrated the public’s discontent with healthcare methods.
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