26-year-old Luigi Mangione

In United States courts, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution, and until a verdict is rendered, the defendant is innocent until proven guilty. This is intrinsic to the protection of the rights of all U.S. citizens. But for Luigi Mangione, the scales have already been tipped.

Upon extradition to New York, Mangione was met by a full force of federal and state law enforcement. He was paraded in handcuffs by an escort of more than two dozen officers and federal agents as onlookers gaped and cameras hungrily captured every step he took. Following closely behind were New York Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “We wanted to personally be here to show the symbolism of leading from the front,” said Adams. 

Mayor Eric Adams "leading from the front"

Luigi Mangione and his attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo

"He is a young man and he is being treated like a human ping pong ball…These federal and state prosecutors are coordinating with one another at the expense of him. They have conflicting theories in their indictments, and they are literally treating him like he is some sort of political fodder," said Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo.

Equal Justice?

One of the core principles of the U.S. legal system is equal justice under the law. Critics of the highly publicized "perp walk" have noted the disparity in how the case is being handled as compared to other similar cases