Luigi Mangione's attorneys accuse federal prosecutors of violating his rights

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione are accusing federal prosecutors of manipulating public opinion against the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and denying him his right to a fair trial. Mangione is facing both state and federal charges for Thompson's murder in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases. On Thursday, NBC News New York reported that Mangione's attorneys had talks with federal prosecutors about a possible plea deal in advance of a scheduled court hearing on Monday, July 6, citing sources familiar with the matter. Mangione's attorneys said in a statement to CBS News on Thursday that the report was "troubling." "This information attributed to 'anonymous sources' is part of a troubling, deliberate pattern by prosecutors and law enforcement to prejudice Luigi, manipulate public opinion, and violate his constitutional right to a fair trial and impartial jury," defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said. "Every defendant in America is presumed innocent until proven guilty, including Luigi, who has to fight the same charges twice." Discussions between prosecutors and defense attorneys prior to trial, including discussions about plea agreements, are common, legal experts told CBS News. "They're going to have a conversation about whether or not they will do a deal. It is not at all uncommon to have a conversation about a potential plea deal throughout the process," CBS News legal analyst Jessica Levinson said. …