Look, the evidence against Luigi Mangione was pretty strong. He had the gun and suppressor on his person when he was arrested. It was pretty clear he was guilty, but a trial would have made it obvious what else was there and, as the system is supposed to, show us what wasn't.
But he's now pleaded guilty, and the possible reason why is infuriating.
Understand that Mangione was facing both federal and state charges. The federal charges were for stalking, while the state of New York wants to try him for murder.
So far, so good. He apparently did both, and should do time for both.
But it looks like he took a plea deal on the federal charges, and the probable reason why is so he can skirt the entire murder rap.
According to Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley, the answer has nothing to do with a guilty conscience. Turley discussed the plea with host Charlie Hurt on Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday, and argued the move was a calculated legal gamble aimed at avoiding a life sentence rather than any sign of remorse.
Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges connected to Thompson's murder. He still faces a separate state trial in New York scheduled for September. That's where things get interesting, because the two cases carry sharply different stakes. The federal charge carries a possible sentence of life without parole. New York's state system has no such option available.
"The New York case is the case that involves the murder charges, but it is also the case and is the case that has a lower potential ceiling for the sentencing," Turley said.
Turley described the plea as "something of a Hail Mary throw," suggesting Mangione is hoping a judge eventually reduces his sentence enough to allow release at an advanced age rather than locking him away for life without parole. The real target, Turley explained, is the state murder case itself. The defense wants it dismissed entirely on double jeopardy grounds, and New York's double jeopardy standard is easier for a defense to clear than in most other jurisdictions.
"The odds are in his favor, if you look at past cases, that that may in fact be dismissed," Turley said.
That's right, New York's double jeopardy statute is so weird that it's possible he'll never be tried for murder because of a completely different charge that just happened to be part of the same crime.
Let's understand that double jeopardy protection does actually matter. We don't need people being tried over and over again until eventually, a jury convicts. That's not right in any way, even if the guy is guilty. If you don't have enough evidence the first time, that's on you. Get it right or face the outcome.
But it's long been understood that different charges can be applied to the same case, and that's what happened here.
The stalking charge is federal because he crossed state lines to do it. Murder is a New York charge, though, and that is a separate aspect of the criminal act. In fact, I'd argue that while both were part of the process that led to the assassination of Brian Thompson, they occurred at different enough times that it shouldn't matter.
Granted, I'm not a lawyer. As I've noted, my parents were not related. That's something a Maine senatorial candidate can't say about his kids, mind you.
Still, the idea that he might get away with murder simply because he already pleaded guilty to another charge is outright infuriating, particularly in a state where they want to punish anyone who wants to exercise their right to keep and bear arms like Dexter Taylor.
New York is not a serious state. It hasn't been for a long time, if ever.
