A New York City judge recently dismissed the terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year old man accused of killing United Healthcare president, Brian Thompson. Legal analyst and criminal defense attorney, Tom Maronick spoke with FOX45 News to give his take and what this could mean for Mr. Mangione moving forward.
Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione Dropped
In the latest development in the trial of Luigi Mangione, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed the two terrorism charges against the former data engineer. In his published Decision and Order, Judge Carro said Mangione’s “animus toward law enforcement did not establish an attempt to influence any government policy through his actions,” and furthermore, that the “concept of terrorism has a ‘unique meaning,’ and its implications ‘risk being trivialized if the terminology is applied loosely in situations that do not match our collective understanding of what constitutes a terrorist act.” He referenced the 1998 American embassy bombings and the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in his decision.
Per Judge Carro, New York law does not consider an act to be terrorism because it’s motivated by ideology alone. However, he did recognize that Mangione’s alleged actions were not a simple street crime, either.
“I’m not surprised,” Baltimore-based criminal defense attorney Tom Maronick told FOX45 News. “I thought the ruling made sense. I’m not surprised that prosecutors attempted to go off the terrorism charges. I thought it was overreaching.”
Despite the terrorism charges being dropped, Luigi Mangione still faces second-degree murder. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of 25 years to life.
Background on the Luigi Mangione Case
Luigi Mangione is accused of murdering United Healthcare president, Brian Thompson on the morning of December 4, 2024 in front of New York Hilton Midtown. Mangione was allegedly standing against a wall across the street from the hotel when he shot Thompson.
Four days later, NYPD detectives and FBI agents spoke with Mangione’s mother after San Francisco police informed them of a missing persons report filed for Mangione. The following day, on December 9, 2024, Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona, Pennsylvania and later charged with first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, two counts of second-degree murder, one of which was charged as killing as an act of terrorism, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.
The dismissal of the terrorism charges signify a big win for Mangione. Per Maronick, “To go from an offense that carries life to one that carries 25 to life is a very good result for him.”
Tom Maronick: Trusted Legal Commentary for High Profile Criminal Cases in Maryland and Beyond
Defense attorney Tom Maronick is routinely sought after for his legal commentary on the most high-profile cases in Maryland and throughout the nation. In December 2024, just a few days after Mangione’s arrest, Tom Maronick spoke with USA Today about the case, stating, “It’s a terrible situation and obviously, a terrible tragedy. But at the same time, the accused deserves the presumption of innocence. That’s the defense attorney in me saying that, of course, but hopefully that’s what happens.”
This case has gripped the nation, and our law firm will continue to provide updates as the trial moves forward. At the time of publication, pretrial hearings are scheduled for December 1, 2025.
To schedule a media appearance with Tom Maronick, please reach out to samantha@esquiredigital.com.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.