Attorney for Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO Killer Claims Bail Denial Was “Wrong” During NewsNation Interview
On Tuesday, NewsNation host Chris Cuomo chuckled after hearing the argument made by the attorney for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Attorney Thomas Dickey stated that it was “wrong” for his client to be denied bail, during his appearance on Cuomo’s show.
“He’s certainly behind bars, which I believe is wrong,” Dickey said, adding that he believed the judge should have set bail that day. Cuomo responded with disbelief, asking, “Counsel, make the case for why you would set bail for a man who screamed out in public that this needed to be done, was found with the same weapon used in the shooting, and had a manifesto detailing why he did it. Why would you want that man released?”
Dickey pushed back, stating, “First of all, you know, Chris, you’re making a statement that that gun that they found matched the shooting in New York. I haven’t been certainly made aware of that.
I haven’t seen any ballistic reports.” Cuomo then probed further, asking, “Let’s say it’s not the same gun. What is your argument as to why you would feel safe if he’s released on bail?”
Dickey’s response focused on the preservation of constitutional rights, saying, “I am worried about the preservation of the Constitution of the United States. I love that document, and that’s why I do what I do.
I stand on an island many times, and that island is the Constitution, which says, number one, that you have a presumption of innocence. Everybody, including this young man.”
Earlier that day, Dickey also made light of the situation by quoting a scene from the classic comedy Airplane II while addressing the media.
Mangione faces charges of murder, criminal possession of a firearm, and possession of a forged document in Pennsylvania. He is awaiting extradition to New York.
Authorities reportedly found a weapon similar to the one used in Thompson’s killing, along with a manifesto and several fake IDs during his arrest. Thompson was shot and killed last week by a masked assailant while walking to a conference in Manhattan.
