Luigi Mangione appears in Manhattan court for a hearing on February 21. CNN
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO, have raised serious concerns. In a new court filing, they claim that Manhattan prosecutors took Mangione’s private medical records without following proper legal steps.
According to the defense, over 120 pages of records came from Aetna, Mangione’s insurance provider. The documents include details about medical diagnoses and complaints. The lawyers say neither the court nor the defense team knew about this request.
Fake Court Date and Subpoena Alleged
The defense says the prosecutors faked a court date, May 23, 2025, on a subpoena sent to Aetna. The document warned Aetna it could face legal trouble if it didn’t comply. But instead of sending the records to the court, Aetna was told to send them directly to the District Attorney’s office.
The lawyers argue this step broke legal rules and allowed prosecutors to get access to private health details unfairly.
Prosecutors Say It Was a Mistake
A spokesperson for the District Attorney said the office only asked for a small set of information. They claim Aetna mistakenly sent extra documents. As soon as they noticed, they deleted the records and informed both the court and defense.
Still, Mangione’s lawyers want the court to look deeper. They’re asking for a hearing and full access to all messages between Aetna and prosecutors.
A spokesperson for Aetna confirmed they received a subpoena and provided the records properly.
Mangione’s Case and Health History
Mangione faces federal murder charges and could receive the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty.
Investigators say Mangione shot the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, in December on a busy New York sidewalk. At the time, Thompson was walking to a hotel hosting a major investor event.
Mangione had not been insured by UnitedHealthcare from 2014 to 2024. But when arrested, police found a notebook where Mangione expressed anger toward the insurance industry.
Writings Show Anger Toward Insurance
A court filing revealed diary entries that suggest Mangione planned the killing. In one entry from August 2024, Mangione wrote that he felt sure about his actions. He described the insurance industry as a “target” and said it “checked every box.”
History of Back Problems
Mangione had chronic back pain and went through surgery in recent years. A friend, R.J. Martin, said Mangione once sent him an X-ray showing large screws in his spine.
Online posts also mentioned a condition called spondylolisthesis, where a spinal bone slips out of place. Mangione said it started in childhood and got worse after a surfing accident.
It’s unclear if the medical records prosecutors received were related to this condition. However, Mangione’s team says prosecutors reviewed private medical documents that should remain protected.
