- Karen Friedman Agnifilo has been retained to represent Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Her husband Marc is representing rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
The holidays could prove a busy time in the Agnifilo household—after all, husband-and-wife team Marc and Karen are seemingly working on two of today’s highest-profile criminal cases in the world.
Marc Agnifilo is leading the legal defence for musician Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Combs is accused of crimes of including sex trafficking, racketeering and physical abuse against his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura.
Agnifilo’s wife, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has now reportedly been retained to represent Luigi Mangione—the 26-year-old accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—in New York.
The high-powered couple both worked in public service before Agnifilo set up his own boutique practice—which his wife subsequently joined.
Friedman Agnifilo left government in 2021, having served as chief assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office since 2014.
During her 30 years in public service Friedman Agnifilo oversaw the creation of the DA office’s human trafficking unit, hate crimes unit, terrorism unit and its cybercrimes and identity theft bureau.
Her husband, as former supervisor at the attorney’s offices in both Manhattan and New Jersey, specializes in complex criminal cases.
High-profile preparation
Friedman Agnifilo’s tenure among New York’s legal elite means she will be well-prepared for the high-profile case, sources told media outlets.
“She’s got as much experience as any human being, especially in the state court. She knows every corridor, every judge, every clerk in the courthouse,” one prosecutor told CNN.
Friedman Agnifilo previously worked as a legal analyst for CNN—which first reported the appointment. The lawyer declined to comment to the outlet.
Representatives for Friedman Agnifilo did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Friedman Agnifilo’s experience with a major news outlet may come in handy, as the world will be watching the case of the Ivy League graduate.
Mangione faces a charge for second-degree murder for the assassination of Fortune500 CEO Thompson.
Thompson, 50, was gunned down outside a hotel in Manhattan on Dec. 4.
The suspect shot Thompson a number of times before escaping through Central Park on a bike. A manhunt ensued and Mangione was arrested in a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania several days later.
Since then, every detail of Mangione’s life has been poured over—particularly his chronic back pain and recent spinal surgery.
Insights on the defense
Before being appointed to work for Mangione, Friedman Agnifilo shared with CNN how lawyers for the defendant might build their case.
Speaking following NYPD’s statement that Mangione’s fingerprints match those which were found at the crime scene, Friedman Agnifilo outlined how his lawyers in Pennsylvania—where he is currently in prison—might handle the case.
In Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested and charged, trial attorney Thomas Dickey has been appointed.
It is understood that Friedman Agnifilo will represent Mangione in New York, with prosecutors fighting to extradite the suspect back to the city.
Speaking ahead of her reported appointment, Friedman Agnifilo explained: “It looks to me like there might be a not guilty by reason of insanity defense that they’re gonna be thinking about.
“The evidence is going to be so overwhelming that he did what he did.”
