Prosecutors and defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of assassination, requested a U.S. judge to schedule a conference for Friday morning. This has led to speculation that Mangione may agree to a plea deal in his federal case, just days before his trial on state murder charges is set to begin. Neither party responded to inquiries regarding the purpose of the hearing, which was requested in a letter that did not specify its intent.
Mangione is accused of stalking and shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a hotel in New York City in December 2024. Jury selection for the state case is scheduled for September 8, 2026, while the federal trial is expected to start in early 2027. In a letter to Judge Gregory Carro, Manhattan prosecutors acknowledged public reports about a potential plea deal and indicated that if such a plea could undermine the state prosecution, they would inform the federal court.
Judge Carro has ordered protections for jurors' identities due to threats and harassment linked to the case. The defense has also requested that the trial be livestreamed, although this is considered unlikely under current New York law. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces significant prison time if convicted.