Who is Karen Friedman Agnifilo? New York attorney to represent Luigi Mangione in UHC shooting case

Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing United Healthcare (UHC) CEO, has retained New York attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo to represent him in the state. CNN was first to report the news on Friday, December 13, 2024, noting Agnifilo previously worked as a CNN legal analyst.

Earlier this week, Pennsylvania authorities arrested Mangione for fatally shooting UHC CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan and fleeing. A McDonald's worker allegedly recognized him from the photos released by the police.

According to the cops, at the time of his arrest, he was carrying a gun (believed to be used in the shooting), a fake ID, and a handwritten manifesto. A Manhattan state court charged Mangione with second-degree murder, three gun possession-related charges, and one charge of forgery.

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Karen Friedman Agnifilo served as Chief Assistant District Attorney of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for seven years

Karen Friedman Agnifilo is an attorney in New York with a nearly three-decade-long career. According to her profile (on Agnifilo Intrater's website), she specializes in criminal justice, litigation, and trials. She focuses on criminal defense, cases related to Title IX, and internal investigations relating to "misconduct, discrimination, and s*xual assault."

Karen Friedman Agnifilo has a degree in political science and government from UCLA (1984) and earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center (1992).

She began her career working as a public servant, initially as the assistant district attorney (initially from 1992 to 2006, later from 2010 to 2021). She later became the chief assistant district attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from 2014 to 2021.

According to the website, while working at the Manhattan DA’s office, Karen Friedman Agnifilo created "the office’s Human Trafficking Unit, Hate Crimes Unit, Antiquities Trafficking Unit, Terrorism Unit, and its Cybercrimes and Identity Theft Bureau, (and) Manhattan’s first Mental Health Court."

Karen Friedman Agnifilo also worked as General Counsel on Criminal Justice Policy at the New York City Mayor's Office from 2006 to 2010 and as the Trial Division Chief at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from 2010 to 2014.

According to Agnifilo's LinkedIn profile, since 2021 she has been working in the private sector. Initially, she worked at Geragos & Geragos, APC. However, in 2023, she became a partner at Agnifilo Law Group, PC. She has also been working at Agnifilo Intrater, LLP since December 2024.

Citing a long-time New York prosecutor, CNN wrote:

"She’s got as much experience as any human being, especially in the state court. She knows every corridor, every judge, every clerk in the courthouse."

In addition to her work as an attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo has frequently appeared on TV shows as a news guest and commentator and co-hosts a podcast, LegalAF, on the Meidas Touch Network. Agnifilo also serves as the legal advisor for the show Law and Order.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo is married to Marc Agnifilo, who is currently representing rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs in his s*x trafficking case.

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Updates on Luigi Mangione's case

Citing police, CNN reported the police found new evidence linking Luigi Mangione to the crime. This included matching fingerprints on items near the crime scene and the shell casings found near the crime scene matching the gun (reportedly 3D printed).

Mangione is fighting extradition to New York and has fourteen days to file for a writ of habeas corpus (asking for proof of lawful imprisonment). Pennsylvania prosecutors have thirty days to get a governor’s (in this case NY Gov. Kathy Hochul) warrant.

The publication, citing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, reported that there were indications that Luigi Mangione "may waive" his extradition. This remains unconfirmed.

In addition to the charges in New York, he is facing gun-related charges in Pennsylvania. He was arraigned for the same in a state court on Tuesday and was denied bail. Mangione remains detained at the Huntingdon State Correctional Institution.