Defense Claims Prosecutors Illegally Accessed Medical Records in High-Profile Case

Attorneys representing Luigi Mangione, charged with the murder of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, assert that Manhattan prosecutors unlawfully accessed his medical records.

The defense contends that the Manhattan District Attorney's office improperly pressured Aetna into disclosing sensitive information, breaching health privacy regulations.

In a letter addressed to the judge, attorney Karen Agnifilo stated, "The District Attorney falsely made up a court date—May 23, 2025—and drafted a fraudulent subpoena. If Aetna did not provide documents by that date, it would face contempt of Court." She further argued that the DA's actions led to the unauthorized possession and partial review of Mangione's confidential medical records, which are protected under doctor-patient privilege and HIPAA. Agnifilo urged the court to impose sanctions following a thorough evidentiary hearing to investigate the extent of these violations.

Sources from the Manhattan DA's office counter that they only requested limited information, claiming Aetna mistakenly sent additional documents, which were promptly deleted upon discovery.

Agnifilo has called for a hearing on this issue, suggesting that depending on the outcome, the judge should consider various sanctions, including the potential dismissal of charges against Mangione.

This is not the first instance where Mangione's defense has sought to have charges dismissed. In May, Agnifilo argued that evidence was obtained illegally and claimed that the terror charges were inapplicable, asserting that concurrent state and federal charges infringe upon the double jeopardy clause.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both murder and terror charges related to Thompson's death. He is scheduled to return to court in September.