Because the Trump administration wants to make a symbol of Luigi Mangione who killed a manager of the health insurance sector

Just before 1pm on Friday 25 April, Luigi Mangione He entered a classroom of the Federal Court of Manhattan by passing from the door to the back. Dressed with the Beige prison uniform and escorted by the federal agents, he had an impassive expression. But once sitting next to his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, he let out some smiles.

During the 35 minutes of the hearing, convened after the federal incrimination for stalking and murder of the CEO of the health sector Brian ThompsonMangione remained mostly in silence, spectator of his judicial destiny. At 13:06 he had the opportunity to pronounce only a few words: “Yes, I saw it”, to the question if he had read the incrimination; “Yes,” to confirm that he had sufficient time to examine it; “I give up”, so as not to let it read in the classroom. Finally, the declaration of ritual: “not guilty”.

If the hearing itself has been without twists and turns, the moral and political load that surrounds it is far from mild. Thompson’s murder took place after the re -election of Donald Trumpbut about a month and a half before his second settlement. The case had an instant global resonance, transforming Mangione into a sort of hero for some environments: a telegenic face, involuntary spokesman for a message that has found echo in many bands of the population. For the Trump administration, the story represented the opportunity to show the punitive muscles, which have quickly become one of the distinctive features of this second presidential mandate. Thursday, the day before the hearing, federal prosecutors formally announced the intention to ask for the death penalty.

“Mangione has chosen to kill Thompson in these circumstances to amplify an ideological message”the prosecutors wrote, “maximize the visibility and impact of the murder and cause a widespread resistance against the industrial sector in which the victim operated”.

At the end of March, after a series of vandalism against the Tesla dealerships – presumably as a sign of protest against Elon Musk – the United States General Prosecutor, Pam Bondispread a disorienting video: impassive face, icy tone. “If you take part in the wave of internal terrorism against the Tesla properties,” he said in a single voice, “we will find, we will stop you and we will put you behind the bars”. This is largely the rhetorical figure adopted by the Department of Justice under the Trump Administration: an aggressive and spectacular communication, often conveyed with enthusiasm through social media to launch the most repressive measures. According to the lawyers of Luigi Mangione, Bondi’s announcement about the intention of asking for the death penalty was a deliberate gesture to generate media clamor. They underlined how the prosecutor spoke openly in an interview a Fox News And he “made public the measure to have” content “to be published on his new Instagram profile”.

Out of the court, someone seemed to fully embody that same fervor. Scott Lobaidoan artist from Staten Island and known to the chronicles for his pro-trump creations, has exhibited a provocative work entitled Deep Fried Luigi («Luigi Fritto»), depicting a skeleton linked to an electric chair with the green hat of the Nintendo character associated with Mangione in the head. Above his head, a sign recited in no uncertain terms: «Fuck Luigi and his followers balls (Fuck Luigi and his Jagoff Followers).

Trial to Luigi Mangione

By Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.

But the crowd was not all hostile. A group of Mangione supporters – about 15 people – was noticed by exposing a series of lively signs: “counterproductive, but not criminal” and “enough dead as an insurance deductible”. On the ground, a Business Card reported the address of a pro-emangion site. On the back, a message full of accusations: «Unmask the conspiracy of the most brutal betrayal and sabotage of the right of Luigi Mangione to a fair trial, hatched by the criminal activist Kathy Hochul and from the ruthless Keren Friedman Agnifilo». (The latter, lawyer and wife of Marc Agnifilo, is part of the Mangione legal team).

Meanwhile, the ministries have confirmed that they were in contact with the victim’s family, Brian Thompson, to update it on developments. Mangione will have to appear again before the state court on June 26, regarding a parallel procedure in the state of New York, with respect to which he has already declared his innocence. The next federal hearing, on the other hand, is set for December 5: on that occasion, the district judge Margaret Gornett It should establish a date for the process. Meanwhile, Garnett has ordered prosecutors to coordinate with Pam Bondi and his staff to avoid public statements that can compromise the accused’s right to a fair trial.

When journalists and observers left the classroom, Marc Agnifilo laid a hand on his client’s shoulder. Mangione smiled a couple of times and seemed to listen carefully.