In a surprising development, both the Justice Department prosecutors and Luigi Mangione’s defense team have requested a meeting with a U.S. judge for this Friday morning. This move has ignited speculation that the 28-year-old, who faces murder charges at the state level, might be contemplating a plea agreement in his federal case just days before his trial kicks off.
Despite this intriguing twist, neither party has provided any comments to News Media following an anonymous ABC report suggesting the hearing would focus on negotiating a possible plea deal.
The brief note submitted to the judge to request the meeting offers no details about the discussion’s aims.
Luigi Mangione is seen during a pretrial hearing at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on August 11, 2026. (Reuters)
“The parties write jointly to request a conference with the Court,” the letter states. “Based on communications with Chambers, we understand that the Court is available to hold the conference on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.”
Mangione is accused of stalking UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, and shooting him in the back outside a New York City Hilton hotel in December 2024.
Jury selection in the state case is set for Sept. 8, and the federal trial is tentatively expected to kick off in early 2027.
In July, Manhattan prosecutors responded to earlier reports of a potential plea deal in a letter to New York Judge Gregory Carro.
“The People are aware of public reporting regarding the possibility of a guilty plea in defendant’s federal case,” assistant DA Joel Seidemann wrote.
“If a proposed federal guilty plea would operate to defeat a just outcome in the state prosecution, the People could advise the federal district court of that consequence, and the court should consider that fact in deciding whether to accept the plea, as well as any opposition by the victim’s family to such a resolution.”
This 2017 file photo of Brian Thompson was released via Businesswire when he was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare Unit in 2017. (Businesswire)
Carro issued an order Tuesday protecting the identities and addresses of jurors in the upcoming case, finding that witnesses have been threatened, doxxed and harassed already and that “individuals identifying themselves as supporters of the defendant engaged in inflammatory and hostile public statements outside the courthouse and announced their intention to attend jury selection to attempt to speak to prospective jurors.”
Prosecutors had requested the move.
The person of interest wanted for questioning in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson peeks through a taxi cab window dividing the driver’s seat from the passenger area. (NYPD)
The defense has separately asked for the trial to be livestreamed, which experts have said is unlikely under current New York law.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison on the state charges if convicted, and up to life without parole federally.