Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges in Luigi Mangione CEO Murder Case

In a significant development, a New York judge has dismissed the two most severe terror-related murder charges against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing a UnitedHealthcare CEO last year. Judge Gregory Carro ruled on Tuesday that the charges were "legally insufficient," stating that New York's terrorism statutes apply to attacks on multiple civilians, not the killing of a single individual.

The judge’s decision sided with the defense, which had argued the charges should be thrown out. Judge Carro wrote that while the evidence pointed to an "ideological" motive, Mangione's apparent desire to draw attention to the healthcare system's inequities, it did not establish the necessary element of an intent to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population." The judge also noted that federal prosecutors, whose own statute served as a model for New York's, have not charged Mangione with terrorism crimes.

Despite the ruling, the case against Mangione is far from over. He still faces nine other counts, including a charge of second-degree murder, which carries a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The judge also rejected a defense motion to dismiss the entire indictment. Furthermore, the decision does not affect Mangione's separate federal case, for which the Department of Justice plans to seek the death penalty.

As the ruling was announced, dozens of Mangione's supporters, many wearing green, cheered outside the Manhattan courthouse. The suspect’s attorneys briefly thanked the crowd. The defense has argued that law enforcement, not their client, created the "air of terrorism" surrounding the case by leaking his writings and calling them a "manifesto." Meanwhile, Mangione's online fundraiser has raised more than $1.2 million since his arrest. A hearing is set for December to consider suppressing evidence and statements from his arrest.