January 1, Fist Pump in Court as Assassin Case Unfolds

Wyatt’s Take

• Mangione pumped his fist in court as key evidence was shown.
• He’s accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO after a nationwide manhunt.
• Defense and prosecution battle over evidence and Miranda rights.

Luigi Mangione, suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, reportedly raised his fist in a Manhattan courtroom as officers played video footage of police searching his backpack. Mangione was found in a McDonald’s after authorities spent days searching nationwide for him.

The footage showed Altoona police officer Christy Wasser finding a magazine with bullets in Mangione’s wet underwear.

“There was another magazine hidden in his underwear,” Wasser says in the footage. Another person adds, “it’s f***ing him.”

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, is charged with stalking and murdering Thompson, who was shot from behind last December. Prosecutors say Mangione held a grudge against the health insurance industry, claiming he left a manifesto. Shell casings at the scene were marked with words like “delay,” “deny,” and “depose.”

Mangione faces life in prison in a state trial and could even face the death penalty in federal court. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In court, Mangione’s lawyers argue some evidence was collected before he was read his Miranda rights, including the alleged murder weapon and writings that may reveal motive. They also want his statements to police thrown out.

The state says the backpack search was needed for safety and that Mangione talked to officers before being taken into formal custody, so Miranda warnings didn’t apply. They plan to use only a statement where Mangione allegedly gave a false name.

Both sides continue to fight over what counts as legal evidence as the high-profile trial moves forward.

Full story here

Wyatt Matters

This case reminds us that justice is about truth and fairness, even when powerful interests are involved. Folks in the heartland know law and order matter, and it’s important for regular Americans to see that courts follow the rules for everyone.