HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Luigi Mangione, charged in early December with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsonhe might be back in New York sooner rather than later.
An attorney for Mangione told CBS News New York on Wednesday that he will waive extradition at his hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday morning.
Law enforcement sources say New York City police detectives will be on hand at the courthouse at 8:30 a.m. to make sure Mangione is transported directly to central holding in criminal court in Manhattan, where he will be photographed before a likely impeachment hearing. it will happen Thursday afternoon or early Friday.
“If he waives extradition, that should be pretty quick,” said Anna Cominsky, a professor at New York Law School. “The idea is that we want to be able to bring him here to answer the charges that are pending here in New York, so in a matter of a day or two at the most.”
Cominsky wondered what the benefit would be if Mangione waived extradition Thursday.
“The benefit is that it starts their New York case. We already know that Pennsylvania has said they’re not going to move forward with their case until the New York case is completed, and so that means once it’s here, he can actually be tried and the case can begin on his charges in New York,” he said.
If for some reason Mangione ends up challenging his extradition, a spokesman said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will quickly sign a special order that could return him to New York City within days or weeks.
“I’m ready to bring him back here and make sure that justice is served to someone who had the audacity to murder any New Yorker. I don’t care what his title is. With this brazen move on our streets he has to result in serious consequences,” said Hochul.
CBS News New York has learned new details about Mangione’s communication at the Pennsylvania prison where he is being held. The 26-year-old suspect has received 40 emails and 53 messages since then his arrest last week at an Altoona McDonald’sand has had 158 deposits in his commissary account. He also had three visitors. Not from the family, but from their three lawyers, including Manhattan prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo.
Luigi Mangione accused of murder and terrorism
Mangione was indicted Tuesday on 11 chargesincluding murder in the first degree in the promotion of terrorism, al brazen assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month.
“This was a murder that was intended to evoke terror, and we’ve seen that reaction,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday.
“This was a terrifying, well-planned and targeted killing that was intended to cause shock, attention and intimidation,” Bragg continued. “It happened in one of the busiest areas of our city, threatening the safety of local residents and tourists alike, commuters and business people just starting their day.”
The prosecution also confirmed The words “deny” and “depose” were written on the carcasses found at the scene, i “delay” was written on one of the bulletsan apparent nod to the “three Ds of insurance,” a phase used by critics of the industry.
“We really need to see more, as to why the prosecutor believes he has evidence to support this terrorism charge. Why do they believe it was not just an intent to kill an individual but also to terrorize? others, put fear into others, which is required to corroborate it,” Cominsky said.
“We don’t celebrate murder”
The NYPD flagged what appears to be an outpouring of online support for Mangione from the public express anger towards the healthcare sectortogether with serious online threats since Thompson’s murder.
“There is no heroism in what Mangione did. It was a senseless act of violence, it was a cold and calculated crime that stole a life and put New Yorkers at risk.” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch he said
“We do not celebrate murder or glorify the killing of anyone, and any attempt to rationalize this is vile, reckless and offensive to our principles of justice,” Tisch added.
