Luigi Mangione 's lawyer is calling out the mayor of New York City. Defense for the 26-year-old, who is being accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , argued in court Dec. 23 that he's been unnecessarily subjected to being paraded through the public during trips to police stations and courtrooms, which could affect his ability to have a fair trial.
Karen Agnifilo labeled these moments "perp walks," per NBC News , that she deemed "unconstitutional," "perfectly choreographed" and "utterly political." And she specifically blamed Mayor Eric Adams for the stunts. "They are literally treating him like he is some sort of political fodder, like some sort of spectacle," Mangione's lawyer told the judge .
"He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest staged perp walk I've ever seen in my career." She added that such walks are "absolutely unnecessary" and are aimed at creating spectacle and stoking the already high publicity around the case. Agniflo specifically alluded to Mangione being escorted by a large group of heavily armed police and officials—including Adams himself—Dec.
19 upon arrival in New York City by helicopter after waving extradition in Pennsylvania. Photos and video of the moment quickly made headlines around the world. "There was no reason for the NYPD and everyone to have these big assault rifles," Agnifilo went on.
"To have all the press there, the media, it was perfectly choreographed. And what was the New York City mayor doing at this .