The attorney for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspected of killing UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, told Good Morning America on Wednesday his client will fight against his extradition to New York after being arrested in Pennsylvania this week, setting up Mangione for a potentially lengthy legal process as prosecutors seek to bring him to the Empire State to face murder and gun charges.
Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Mangione’s defense attorney, Thomas Dickey, told Good Morning America one of the “many reasons" he is pushing back against Mangione’s extradition is “so we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against [Mangione],” noting his legal team has yet to see any evidence related to the New York charges.
Mangione’s charges in New York include second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree and criminal possession of a forged instrument linked to his alleged possession of a fake ID.
The fight against Mangione’s extradition could be done to provide his Dickey with more time to build his defense, according to CNN legal analyst Karen Agnifilo, who told the news outlet Dickey could also use the time to demand prosecutors present more evidence at Mangione’s next hearing.
It could potentially take as little as days, or up to two months, for the extradition process to be completed, according to multiple outlets, with Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks telling reporters the process could take up to 45 days.
Mangione is entitled to a Pennsylvania evidentiary hearing in his challenge against extradition, The New York Times reported, noting the hearing will require the Manhattan district attorney’s office to provide a witness.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Prosecutors in New York will have to send a governor’s warrant to Pennsylvania marking the formal request of Mangione’s extradition to New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement she will work with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and sign a request for a governor’s warrant “to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable.” The warrant will go to the desk of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is expected to sign it.
Seemingly low. Weeks appeared confident in prosecutors’ chances of successfully extraditing Mangione to New York, telling reporters “we’re going to get the defendant out there” and that the contested extradition creates “more hoops for law enforcement to jump through, but we’re happy to do that.”
If extradited to New York, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told CNN he thinks there is a “super strong” case against Mangione, noting the 3-D printed pistol and silencer found on his person during his arrest Monday that authorities have said is “consistent with the weapon used in the murder.” McCabe added the case against Mangione would be different if he disposed of the weapon and fake IDs before his arrest. In addition to Mangione being found with a similar weapon used in Thompson’s murder, New York police also matched shell casings found at the crime scene to the gun found on Mangione this week.
Mangione’s charges in Pennsylvania are less severe than his charges in New York and include forgery, carrying firearms without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and giving false identification to law enforcement. The most serious of his Pennsylvania charges is forgery, which can result in up to 10 years in prison.
Mangione is being held without bail in a Pennsylvania state prison after being arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The 26-year-old, who was the subject of a large-scale manhunt prior to his arrest, is accused of fatally shooting Thompson in Manhattan last week. Thompson had been UnitedHealthcare’s CEO since 2021 and was killed before attending UnitedHealth Group’s investor meeting, which was canceled after the murder. Thompson was laid to rest Tuesday in Minnesota. Mangione, who authorities suggested had deep-seated issues with the health insurance industry, was found with multiple fake IDs, a U.S. passport and a pistol and silencer similar to the firearm used to kill Thompson.
What Crimes Was Luigi Mangione Charged With? What To Know (Forbes)