A U.S. District Court judge on Wednesday pushed back Luigi Mangione\u2019s federal trial one month despite the prosecution expressing concerns that any delay could add fuel to Mangione\u2019s cult following.<\/p>\n
Judge Margaret Garnett said the trial\u2019s start date will move from the beginning of September to October due to \u201cparamount issues\u201d related to Mangione\u2019s ability to participate in each part of the trial, The New York Times reported<\/a>. Mangione is also facing a state trial in New York over the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the suspect\u2019s defense team raised concerns that the beginning of the federal trial would overlap with the state trial, which is set to begin in June.<\/p>\n Mangione\u2019s lawyers asked Garnett to move the federal trial\u2019s start date to January 2027, but they\u2019ll now have to accept the one-month delay. Mangione threw a tantrum<\/a> in state court in February after the judge set his trial date for June.<\/p>\n The prosecution likely isn\u2019t too pleased with Garnett\u2019s decision either. Assistant U.S. attorney Dominic Gentile argued before the judge that it was necessary for the federal trial to \u201cproceed as the court has already scheduled\u201d because of the concerning wave of support for Mangione. Gentile told the judge that just outside of the courtroom there was a crowd of demonstrators \u201cwho follow this defendant and believe what he did was right.\u201d<\/p>\n Mangione has been lifted up as a type of vigilante hero by radical leftists who are incensed by the health insurance industry. Some of Mangione\u2019s supporters, often donning hats and costumes of the Super Mario Nintendo character Luigi, have gathered outside of the courthouse in New York for each of his court appearances.<\/p>\n Supporters of Luigi Mangione gather outside of Manhattan Federal Court on January 09, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Thompson, a 50-year-old father and husband, was in New York City for UnitedHealthcare\u2019s annual investor conference when he was gunned down from behind on December 4, 2024. After arresting Mangione, authorities found a diary on him that included passages raging against the health insurance industry and also contained a line about taking out \u201cthe CEO at the annual parasitic bean counter convention.\u201d<\/p>\n Garnett said the state trial limits the options for the federal court, stating, \u201cWhether we like it or not, we are at the will of the state case,\u201d NBC News reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the nature of dual prosecutions,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Garnett threw out the federal murder charge that made Mangione eligible for the death penalty. Attorney General Pam Bondi had directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Mangione now only faces two stalking charges in the federal case. He faces a charge of second-degree murder in the state case.<\/p>\n Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2255405660-864x576.jpg\")
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