A husband-and-wife legal power couple is now leading two of the nation’s most high-profile criminal cases.
Luigi Mangione has retained Karen Friedman Agnifilo for his legal defense in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 26-year-old alleged assassin has hired this top New York attorney to represent him in forthcoming legal proceedings in the Empire State.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a veteran of New York City's criminal justice system, is married to Marc Agnifilo, who is heading Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal defense. News of her hiring came just hours after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicated that Mangione might stop resisting his extradition to New York, where he faces a murder charge. Mangione is currently being held in a Pennsylvania jail without bond after his arrest at a McDonald's, following a days-long manhunt.
“Indications are that the defendant may waive,” Bragg said Friday afternoon. “But that waiver is not complete until a court proceeding, which my understanding from court officials in Pennsylvania cannot happen until Tuesday.”
Friedman Agnifilo's tenure as a prosecutor—especially her work at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office—may prove to be a key asset in her defense of Mangione.
She spent the majority of her career as a public servant, working at the Manhattan DA's office, including as its chief assistant district attorney. From 2014 to 2021, she was second in command to DA Cyrus Vance, during which time she recused herself from Harvey Weinstein’s rape prosecution due to her husband’s involvement with Weinstein’s defense attorney.
“She’s got as much experience as any human being, especially in the state court,” a former colleague of Friedman Agnifilo’s told CNN. “She knows every corridor, every judge, every clerk in the courthouse.”
In 2021, Friedman Agnifilo switched judicial sides and joined her husband’s firm, Agnifilo Intrater LLP.
Her experience in navigating national media attention is extensive as well. She is a frequent legal commentator, was formerly a legal analyst for CNN, and currently serves as the legal advisor for Law and Order. Her weekly legal podcast attracts hundreds of thousands of listeners.
While she has yet to comment publicly on the UnitedHealth case, Mangione’s attorney in Pennsylvania told The Independent that he anticipates Mangione will plead not guilty to the second-degree murder charge as well as to other counts in New York. The lawyer also suggested Mangione would deny the charges related to a gun and fake ID that police said they found when they arrested him.