‘We respect the court’s decision’: Luigi Mangione terrorism charges dismissed – is he off the hook entirely?

A New York state judge just dismissed two terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old man accused of killing health insurance executive Brian Thompson. Justice Gregory Carro made the ruling because prosecutors didn’t present enough evidence to prove Mangione acted with the intent to intimidate health insurance workers or influence government policy, which is what’s needed to prove murder as an act of terrorism.

While this is a pretty huge development in the case, it doesn’t mean Mangione is off the hook entirely. He still faces a second-degree murder charge and eight other criminal counts, and he could still get life in prison if he is convicted of murder. Despite the dismissal of the state-level terrorism charges, Mangione is also facing a separate federal indictment for the killing of Thompson.

The U.S. Justice Department is even seeking the death penalty in that federal case. The dismissal of the state charges has no bearing on the federal case, so that’s something to keep in mind. According to Reuters, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both the state and federal charges.

Luigi Mangione will not be tried as a terrorist

The killing of Brian Thompson, the former chief executive of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit, happened on December 4 outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel. Even though the killing was widely condemned by public officials, Mangione has become a kind of folk hero to some people who are fed up with the high cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Interestingly, a small group of Mangione’s supporters showed up outside the courthouse. One person was even dressed in a Luigi costume from Nintendo, and another held a flag that said, “Healthcare is a human right.” Inside the courtroom, about two dozen members of the public, mostly young women, were there to watch the proceedings. One of them had a black t-shirt that said “Free Luigi” in white letters.

In his decision, Justice Carro wrote that while the crime wasn’t “ordinary street crime,” it doesn’t mean it should be covered by the terrorism statute. This is a pretty interesting take, and it shows the legal system’s careful approach to applying a terrorism label.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a statement saying, “We respect the court’s decision and will proceed on the remaining nine counts, including murder in the second degree.” This makes it clear that while they might not have gotten the terrorism charges, they are still moving forward with the case. The next court date for Mangione has been set for December 1.

So, while the terrorism charges are gone for now at the state level, the legal battle is far from over for Luigi Mangione. He’s still facing some really serious charges, and with the federal case still active, things are going to get even more complicated.