NEW YORK — Prosecutors in the Southern District have rejected claims that they intercepted conversations between Luigi Mangione and his attorney. During a recent arraignment, attorney Karen Agnifilo alleged that federal prosecutors accessed a recorded phone call she had with Mangione. The presiding judge instructed the prosecution to provide a detailed explanation within one week regarding the allegations.
In a letter submitted to the court on Tuesday, prosecutors clarified that the Metropolitan Detention Center, where Mangione is incarcerated, regularly records and monitors communication involving inmates. They explained that Mangione had conversed with his attorney over a monitored line, rather than one specifically reserved for attorney-client calls. Additionally, the phone number Agnifilo used was not labeled as belonging to a legal representative.
This misunderstanding led to the detention center mistakenly sending recordings of those calls to the federal government, which were then forwarded to the New York County District Attorney’s office. According to prosecutors, a paralegal at the DA’s office identified the recording as an attorney call and immediately ceased listening, alerting the prosecution team to the error.
The federal prosecution team has stated that no members have listened to any recordings of communications between Mangione and his attorney, assuring that all attorney call recordings have been segregated to prevent further access.
Mangione, 26, stands accused of the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, outside a Manhattan hotel in December. At his arraignment, he entered a not guilty plea to federal charges of murder and stalking. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to pursue the death penalty in this case.
In addition to the federal charges, Mangione has also pleaded not guilty to state-level murder and terrorism charges in New York, as well as charges of forgery and weapons violations in Pennsylvania. His trial is anticipated to commence in 2026.
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