Judges push back Luigi Mangione's federal and state trials

A judge pushed back the start of Luigi Mangione's federal interstate stalking trial during a hearing Wednesday in New York City.

Later, another judge delayed the start of his state case.

Mangione is being tried at both levels for the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

Judge Margaret Garnett initially set a Sept. 8 trial date for the federal case, with opening statements scheduled for Oct. 13. Now jury selection will be on Oct. 5, and the trial will start on either Oct. 26 or Nov. 2.

Defense attorneys said the delay was needed because they are representing Mangione in multiple cases at the same time.

Prosecutors argued on Wednesday that the real reason the defense wanted to postpone the trial is because the lawyers are also representing another high-profile client. Mangione's lawyers – Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos – confirmed in February they will be representing Harvey Weinstein in his sexual assault case.

Meanwhile, the judge in Mangione's state trial has pushed the start of the state case back from June 8 to Sept. 8.

Mangione's lawyers previously said the state trial is too soon because they need the rest of the year to prepare for the federal trial.

Federal murder charge dropped

Judge Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge in January that would have enabled prosecutors to seek capital punishment. She also threw out a gun charge, but left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The state charges also carry the possibility of life in prison.

Mangione spoke out against the prospect of back-to-back trials at a recent hearing. 

"It's the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition," he told the state judge.

Legal expert Rich Schoenstein, who isn't affiliated with the case, said it's not double jeopardy until one of the courts commences a trial. 

"If he goes to trial in one of these courts and then a jury is sworn in in another court, that is a potential double jeopardy situation, but he's not subject to double jeopardy yet," Schoenstein said.  

Federal prosecutors said they won't appeal the judge's ruling that bars them from seeking the death penalty. 

Mangione accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO

Brian Thompson, 50, was killed on Dec. 4, 2024 while walking to a midtown Manhattan hotel for a UnitedHealth Group conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him in the head from behind. 

Police said "delay," "deny" and "depose" were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe insurers avoiding paying claims.

Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was arrested five days later after he was spotted eating breakfast at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of the city.

He is also facing multiple lower-level charges in Pennsylvania tied to his arrest, including possession of an unlicensed gun and forgery.