From 8.14.26 SDNY transcript
Please note that to avoid inadvertently running afoul of any court rules, we will only be sharing Luigi Mangione’s plea allocution, rather than a complete transcript. “Proceeding continues” means the proceeding continued, but is not reproduced in its entirety here.
THE COURT: All right. Sir, I'm going to ask you now to tell me in your own words what you did that makes you believe that you are guilty of these charges. And if you are going to read, I just remind you to read slowly. Sometimes——even me reading a script——when you are reading, people tend to read more quickly. So just take your time and read slowly. Go ahead. It's entirely up to you, Mr. Mangione. If you would like to stand, you can stand, and if you are more comfortable sitting, that's fine.
THE DEFENDANT: I'll stay seated.
THE COURT: OK. Go ahead.
THE DEFENDANT: After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system and witnessing similar experiences of countless others, I learned that United Healthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on December 4, 2024, although the specific location was not publicly disclosed.
THE COURT: I'm sorry. Mr. Mangione, I'm so sorry to interrupt you. I'm just having a little bit of trouble hearing you, and so maybe back up a little bit from the microphone.
THE DEFENDANT: Back up, OK.
THE COURT: And just try to keep your voice up. The last thing I heard was that you learned that United Healthcare would be holding an investor conference in Manhattan in December. Go ahead.
THE DEFENDANT: I learned that United Healthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on December 4, 2024, although the specific location was not publicly disclosed. I then researched the event online. I observed that the annual conference of America's largest health care organization with the stated mission to make health --excuse me -- with the stated mission to make the health system work better for everyone, would be attended by company executives, the board of directors, and hundreds of investors, not doctors, nurses, and patients. In November of 2024, I traveled from outside of New York State to Manhattan. I then emailed United Healthcare leadership posing as an investor at a firm managing over $50 billion in assets and requesting information about the conference. Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour. Before traveling to New York, I used a 3-D printer to make part of a gun, and I equipped the gun with the silencer and magazine. My travel to New York and email to United Healthcare was with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson. On the morning of December 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died. When I did so, I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or serious bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.
THE COURT: Ms. Friedman Agnifilo, are you aware of any valid defense that would prevail at trial, or do you know any reason why I should not allow Mr. Mangione to plead guilty?
MS. FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO: No, your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr. Gentile, are there any additional questions that you want me to ask Mr. Mangione?
MR. GENTILE: No, your Honor.
[proceeding continues]
THE COURT: Does either party know of any reason why I should not accept the defendant's plea of guilty? Mr. Gentile?
MR. GENTILE: No, your Honor.
THE COURT: Ms. Friedman Agnifilo?
MS. FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO: No, your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr. Mangione, how do you now plead to Counts One and Two of the indictment?
THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.