Allegations of Unauthorized Medical Record Access Against Prosecutors by Luigi Mangione's Defense

Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of the murder of United HealthCare's CEO Brian Thompson, are contesting the legal conduct of the Manhattan District Attorney's office regarding the acquisition of Mangione's medical records.

The defense argues that the DA’s office unlawfully pressured Aetna into handing over sensitive health data, allegedly breaching privacy protection laws established under HIPAA. According to Karen Agnifilo, Mangione’s attorney, the prosecutors fabricated a court hearing date—May 23, 2025—and forged a subpoena threatening Aetna with contempt of court unless documents were provided by this date.

“Since the District Attorney’s team has accessed and reviewed at least some of Luigi Mangione’s protected medical records, violating doctor-patient confidentiality and HIPAA regulations, we urge the court to conduct a comprehensive evidentiary hearing,” Agnifilo stated in correspondence to the presiding judge. She insisted that the court impose sanctions due to the magnitude of the alleged legal breaches by the prosecutors.

Responding to these claims, internal sources within the DA's office suggested that an overreach was not intended, and clarified that while limited information was requested from Aetna, the company inadvertently sent additional data, which was promptly deleted once discovered.

Agnifilo has called for an official hearing to scrutinize the incident and posits that consequences could extend to the dismissal of charges against her client, contingent on the hearing's outcomes.

Previously, Mangione’s defense has contested the validity of the charges, arguing against the applicability of terrorism charges and suggesting that the concurrent handling of state and federal charges could constitute double jeopardy, a principle prohibiting an individual from being tried twice for the same crime.

Currently, Mangione maintains his innocence with regards to the accusations of murder and terrorism tied to Thompson's death. He is slated to appear in court again come September.