Luigi Mangione's lawyers are attempting to push back against allegations that their client has been in negotiations for a federal plea deal. According to anonymous sources, Mangione has been in contact with federal prosecutors regarding a possible plea deal, but an agreement was reportedly close but fell apart.
In a statement, Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, claimed that prosecutors are trying to shape public opinion about the case, but did not directly address plea deal discussions. Agnifilo stated that the information attributed to 'anonymous sources' is part of a troubling pattern by prosecutors and law enforcement to prejudice Mangione, manipulate public opinion, and violate his constitutional right to a fair trial and impartial jury.
Mangione faces two federal stalking charges resulting in death, and two other charges, murder through the use of a firearm and a weapons charge, were dismissed earlier this year. The federal murder charge was death penalty eligible. The U.S. attorney's office declined to comment on the matter.
After informing the court that they plan to pursue a psychiatric defense for Mangione, his lawyers suddenly withdrew the "extreme emotional disturbance" defense plan. Under New York law, if the claim was accepted by jurors following his conviction, it had the potential to reduce a murder verdict to first-degree manslaughter.
Criminal defense attorneys speculate that Mangione changed his mind after realizing that this defense could open him up to more issues. "He might have had a change of heart and said, 'Wait a second, I'm going into state court. I'm admitting that I did this. How is this going to play when I'm facing even more serious charges in federal court in January of next year?'" a Maryland-based attorney and legal analyst said.
Another criminal defense attorney called the initial defense plan "a very risky trial strategy." "They are basically telling the jury that Mangione committed the murder, but here is why he did it and, because of this, you should nullify his guilt," he said. "If the jury accepts that, it would be an epic win for the defense team. If the jury rejects that, it [would] likely mean that Mangione will spend the rest of his life behind bars."
