NYC Mayor Under Fire for Handling of UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Case

The lawyer for Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, slammed New York City officials for orchestrating a highly publicized "perp walk" following his extradition from Pennsylvania.

<img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6769e02a1700002500373b44.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale" alt="Luigi Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, criticized the fanfare that surrounded her client when he was extradited from Pennsylvania to New York last Thursday.">

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione's attorney, described the scene as the "biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen," criticizing the use of heavily armed officers and the presence of Mayor Eric Adams, who stated his intent to send a "strong message." Agnifilo argued that the display was excessive, unnecessary, and politically motivated, especially given Mangione's cooperation with law enforcement. She also pointed out the irony of the mayor's actions given his own ongoing criminal corruption case.

<img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6769f78d1700002600373b4d.jpeg?cache=uoTsuS9BFS&amp;ops=scalefit_720_noupscale" alt="Luigi Mangione was flanked by law enforcement when he arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Dec. 23.">

Mayor Adams' press secretary, Kayla Mamelak Altus, defended the mayor's actions, stating that the public display was meant to send a message that violence is unacceptable in NYC. Mangione pleaded not guilty to 11 state charges.

Mangione's next court appearance is scheduled for February 21st.