The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan has been recused from Luigi Mangione's case.
"The Government also writes to inform the Court that United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, is recused from this matter," attorneys from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said in a letter to Judge Margaret Garnett on Wednesday.
Newsweek has contacted the district for comment via email. Mangione's attorneys have also been contacted for comment via email. Luigi Mangione in court
Mangione, 26, is facing federal and state charges in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel in December.
He pleaded not guilty to a federal murder charge last Friday. Federal prosecutors have declared their intent to seek the death penalty. Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terrorism charges in December.
The letter did not explain why Clayton recused from the case, but said that Perry Carbone, the district's criminal division chief, will serve as the attorney for the United States in the case.
"Mr. Carbone has conveyed the same to the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, which confirmed that it will in turn notify the Attorney General," the letter said.
President Donald Trump announced in April that Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, would serve as interim U.S. attorney for Southern District of New York while the administration pursues Senate confirmation for him to serve in the role full-time.
Wednesday's letter also amended an earlier letter to Garnett that described the handling of a recorded jail call between Mangione and his attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo.
The earlier letter has said that a paralegal at the New York County District Attorney's Office (DANY) had "immediately stopped listening" to the call after recognizing it as an attorney call.
"In fact, the paralegal listened to the entire call, then subsequently informed DANY prosecutors about the identities of the people with whom the defendant spoke," Wednesday's letter said.
"DANY thereafter handled the matter as described in our previous letter. Moreover, DANY notified defense counsel of these facts in an email, dated April 22, 2025, thus, counsel was aware of this information prior to arraignment."
Mangione is next due in federal court on December 5. His next appearance in the state case is set for June 26.
No trial date has been set in either case, but his defense team have said they want the federal case to take precedent because it involves the death penalty.
I don't know if you've noticed, but due process has been thrown out the window in the United States.
Also, Mangione has committed the most terrible of all crimes: he attacked corporate America. He will be spared nothing.
Allegedly. Also he's a hero
Yeah... That's cute, but if people truly believed there was any doubt that he did it, there wouldn't be the wave of support and enthusiasm he unwittingly created.
The general public aren't investigators. The burden of proof is pretty low when you're looking for someone to rally behind. People would rally behind anyone the government dragged out, regardless of how legitimate the case was. Even if he turns out to be innocent, he'll still be a symbol because of his association and how the government has gone after him.
Agreed.
All I was saying was, no need to say Allegedly here. People who patronize Luigi Mangione forums have a pretty good idea who they think did it, they actually agree with what they think he did, and there isn't much point in reminding them that Luigi is technically innocent until proven guilty.
Oh well... At least Luigi will have his day in court, unlike the poor sods who were shipped off to Salvadorian concentration camps without due process by the Trump regime. In this weird day and age, Luigi might be luckier than most in that his constitutional rights will be respected.
We say alleged because in civilization, you're innocent until proven guilty.
Which civilization is that, exactly? How long ago are we talking here?