Famed whistleblower Chelsea Manning turns up to support Luigi Mangione in court, ‘Exercising my Sixth Amendment right’

Chelsea Manning was one of over 100 people who filled the courtroom to support Luigi Mangione, including several female admirers.

Published on: Feb 22, 2025, 23:05:24 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Renowned whistleblower Chelsea Manning was reportedly present at a Manhattan courtroom on Friday, February 21, to support UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s alleged killer Luigi Mangione, who is facing murder and terror charges in his New York state case. Manning was one of over 100 people who filled the courtroom, including several female admirers.

Famed whistleblower Chelsea Manning turns up to support Luigi Mangione in court (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, photo by Steven HIRSCH / POOL / AFP)

‘I am here exercising my Sixth Amendment right’

Manning served jail time for leaking military cables to WikiLeaks, but her sentence was eventually commuted. She told People that she arrived at the courthouse at about 8:15 am, before Mangione's scheduled 2:15 pm appearance.

“I am here exercising my Sixth Amendment right," Manning said. "I am a member of the N.Y.C. public here to witness our court proceedings.” The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees a speedy and public trial, besides other things.

Supporters of Mangione have raised over half a million dollars for his legal defence. They have also set up a large billboard in lower Manhattan, depicting the CEO killer as a saint.

Mangione’s attempt to delay his murder case was denied by a judge on Friday, February 21. The 26-year-old bulletproof vest over a green cable knit sweater, and his arms and legs were shackled together. His lawyer attempted to delay the filing of “motions,” but in vain.

“They’re still deciding whether to seek the death penalty of Mr. Mangione,” attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said, according to New York Post. “That’s where our focus is.”

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges. However, he still has to enter a plea on federal murder charges. He has been charged with an 11-count indictment by a Manhattan grand jury, which included first-degree and second-degree murder counts specifically referring to a New York law that addresses terrorism. Besides these charges, Mangione is also facing other weapon and forgery charges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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