Source: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/16/us/luigi-mangione-ny-court-hearing

Mangione’s defense had argued the terror-related charges should be tossed because crimes of terrorism as defined in New York state legislation refer to attacks on multiple civilians, not a shooting of a single individual.

“While the People place great emphasis on defendant’s ‘ideological’ motive, there is no indication in the statute that a murder committed for ideological reasons (in this case, the defendant’s apparent desire to draw attention to what he perceived as inequities or greed within the American health care system), fits within the definition of terrorism without establishing the necessary element of an in tent to intimidate or coerce,” Judge Gregory Carro wrote in his decision Tuesday.

  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    The Feds are really pooching this investigation. Either they sent in scrubs to run this case or he really is the wrong guy. Ffs, they claimed to have a manifesto from the shooter. “Terrorism” charges should be comically easy to stick.

    • slate@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      The jude said that a murder for ideological reasons does not, in itself, constitute terrorism. A manifesto is about ideology, so having one is not an automatic terrorism charge.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        murder for ideological reasons does not, in itself, constitute terrorism

        Murder to intimate or affect a change in behavior of a large group would be. But there should be evidence to this effect, which the police claimed they had.

        A manifesto is about ideology

        A manifesto is just a statement of intent. What it contains can vary substantially by author. But, critically, you need to prove the person committing the crime produced the document.

        I wonder if they failed to do this and got the document tossed. At that point, you’re coasting on the suspect’s social media history and hoping the judge gets Bad Vibes of casual comments.

    • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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      2 days ago

      Sloppy Prosecutors under political pressure trying to pelase their owners like obedient dogs they are.

      Story as old as time, looks like the judge was not in the mood to have his name dragged down with this fiasco.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        The judge is likely going to get dragged for not going along with the fiasco. You know its just a matter of time before Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo or the Cheeto Himself weighs in on how unfair and far-left the SDNY has become.

        • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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          2 days ago

          Judges operate on their own plane mostly as the thrid branch.

          Politicians and media have to walk a tight rope.

          But yeah I cna see some regime whore crying foul about judge being soft on a “domestic terrorist”

          • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            Judges operate on their own plane mostly as the thrid branch.

            Tell that to Clarence Thomas and his gifted $250k RV. Or any lower court judge gunning for appointment to a higher seat.

            • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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              2 days ago

              Accepting owners money is a different matter.

              This is a high visibility event, not a back room deal.