Luigi Mangione's defense team discussed plea deal in federal case: ABC News sources

NEW YORK -- Defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione and federal prosecutors in Manhattan discussed a possible guilty plea ahead of a hearing Monday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges stemming from the December 2024 murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The sources said it was not clear how close the two sides came to an agreement before the negotiations stopped.

Mangione, like any criminal defendant, retains the option of changing his plea at any time before, or even during, trial.

Monday's hearing before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnet is expected to discuss plans for trial, including jury selection.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

Mangione's legal team declined to comment on the status of any plea talks but his lead attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said in a statement, "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. Every defendant in America is presumed innocent until proven guilty, including Luigi, who, unlike any other defendant, has to fight the same charges twice."