The attorney for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, sharply criticized the “spectacle” surrounding her client in court on Monday, calling his extradition from Pennsylvania to New York City the “biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career.”
During Mangione’s arraignment at a lower Manhattan courthouse, the alleged killer entered a not guilty plea on the 11 state charges stemming from the Dec. 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
At the hearing, Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, expressed concern about her client’s ability to receive a fair trial given the immense attention he is facing from both the public and New York City officials.
Pointing to the highly publicized scene at Mangione’s transfer from Pennsylvania to New York last Thursday, Friedman Agnifilo accused public servants and members of law enforcement of using Mangione as “political fodder.”
“He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career,” she told Judge Gregory Carro. “It was absolutely unnecessary.”
When Mangione arrived in NYC after waiving his extradition rights from Pennsylvania last week, he was escorted off the helicopter by a team of heavily armed law enforcement officers.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was also there to meet Mangione, afterwards telling local TV station PX11 News he intended to send a “strong message” to the accused about what happens to people who bring crime to his city.
Friedman Agnifilo told Judge Carro that she found the situation to be entirely excessive, given Mangione’s cooperation with law enforcement.
“There was no reason for the NYPD and everybody to have these big assault rifles that frankly I had no idea was in their arsenal ― and to have all of this press there, the media there,” she said. “It was perfectly choreographed.”
Calling attention to Adams’ presence, Friedman Agnifilo asked, “And what was the New York City mayor doing at this press conference? That just made it utterly political.”
“The mayor should know more than anyone of the presumption of innocence that he too is afforded when dealing with his own issues,” she went on, referring to the criminal corruption case the mayor is currently facing.
In light of Friedman Agnifilo’s criticism, Adams’ press secretary, Kayla Mamelak Altus, defended the mayor’s choice to confront Mangione face to face.
In a statement to NBC News, Altus said, “The cold-blooded assassination of Brian Thompson — a father of two — and the terror it infused on the streets of New York City for days has since been sickeningly glorified, shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of the internet.”
“Critics can say all they want, but showing up to support our law enforcement and sending the message to New Yorkers that violence and vitriol have no place in our city is who Mayor Eric Adams is to his core.”
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The spectacle surrounding Mangione has not ceased since his return to New York. On Monday, he was escorted into the courtroom with an officer on each arm and about a half dozen other officials following behind.
About two dozen women filled the courtroom gallery in support of Mangione, according to ABC News. None of his family was present.
Mangione’s next New York City court date is scheduled for Feb. 21.