Lawyers for Luigi Mangione say he condemns political violence and deny any connection to a wave of separate attacks. Attorneys argue that linking Mangione to unrelated crimes is prejudicial, and they successfully removed the death penalty as a sentencing option in his case. Authorities contend several suspects referenced Mangione or similar rhetoric in recent incidents, while defense lawyers dispute an ideological or organizational link.
Mangione’s Lawyer Denounces Political Violence as Authorities Link Suspects to Copycat Attacks
Luigi Mangione 'does not support violent actions,' attorney says as political attacks mount across the US
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione are publicly urging an end to political violence and pushing back against efforts to link their client to a string of separate, high-profile attacks across the United States.
Attorney Statement
"As we have stated before in multiple public court filings, Mr. Mangione does not support violent actions and does not condone past or future political violence," Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. She called attempts to associate Mangione with unrelated incidents "irresponsible, dangerous and prejudicial."
Luigi Mangione appears in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Dec. 12, 2025, during an evidence suppression hearing in the murder case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.(Fox News)
"These repeated attempts to connect him to unrelated acts or to insinuate that he condones or supports these acts are irresponsible, dangerous and prejudicial." — Karen Friedman Agnifilo
Recent Incidents Cited by Authorities
Federal and local prosecutors have pointed to a series of recent attacks and attempted attacks in which suspects allegedly invoked Mangione or used similar rhetoric. Authorities say some defendants sought to inspire broader violence or normalize violent tactics; defense lawyers dispute any organizational or ideological connection to Mangione.
Notable incidents referenced by prosecutors include:
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is shown in an undated portrait provided by UnitedHealth. He was shot and killed on his way to an investor conference in New York City in what prosecutors described as a politically motivated assassination.
- White House Correspondents' Dinner Attempt: A 31-year-old California teacher, Cole Allen, was arrested after allegedly shooting a Secret Service agent in the chest while trying to gain entry to the event in Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutors allege he attempted to assassinate the president and circulated a purported "manifesto."
- Molotov Attack Near Sam Altman’s Home: Authorities say 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman’s home and referenced "Luigi'ing some tech CEOs" in materials connected to him.
- Warehouse Arson in Ontario, California: Prosecutors allege Chamel Abdulkarim invoked Mangione on video while setting a warehouse fire and saying, "Luigi popped that motherf---er," according to court filings.
- Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson: Federal filings accuse Mangione of stalking Brian Thompson from Minnesota to New York and shooting him in the back. Prosecutors allege Mangione wrote messages on shell casings and kept journals describing his motivations; they argue the killing had a broader, demonstrative intent to provoke reaction.
- Other Violent Incidents: Authorities have linked a range of copycat or ideologically charged attacks to similar rhetoric this year, including the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at a Utah event and an attack on ICE agents in Dallas in which rounds recovered bore the inscription "ANTI-ICE." In Minneapolis, prosecutors say a suspect posted videos showing weapons marked with anti-Trump and anti-Christian messages.
Defense Arguments and Legal Developments
Mangione’s lawyers have rejected the characterization of Thompson’s killing as "political violence," arguing Thompson was not a public official or political actor and that the government’s public statements have prejudiced their client by linking him to unrelated incidents and to alleged "left-wing extremist" groups without evidence.
In a Sept. 23 letter to the federal judge overseeing the case, the defense argued that recent high-profile killings and public rhetoric unfairly painted Mangione as an ideologically motivated extremist. The defense successfully persuaded the court to remove the death penalty as a potential sentence in the case.
Tyler Robinson appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, on Dec. 11, 2025. He is accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Broader Concerns
Prosecutors and some elected officials warn that incendiary rhetoric can inspire copycat attacks and escalate political violence. Others caution against conflating individual criminal acts with broader political movements without clear evidence of coordination or motive.
The case remains active and is drawing intense public and legal scrutiny as authorities investigate alleged links, while Mangione’s legal team continues to contest those characterizations in court.
Reporting contributions: Stepheny Price and Michael Dorgan. Source: Fox News Digital and related federal filings.
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