Luigi Mangione to mount emotional disturbance defense to justify killing of United Healthcare CEO

NEW YORK— Luigi Mangione plans to mount a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial this fall, an attempt to justify killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the grounds he was experiencing an extreme emotional disturbance, a Manhattan judge said Wednesday.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro revealed the stunning development at a brief court hearing in announcing he would unseal a recent defense motion. The judge ordered Mangione’s lawyers to promptly share more details with the prosecution, including the precise mental defect they will allege he suffered and the name of their medical expert.

“They need to know what the malady is that this defendant suffered,” and how it triggered his targeting of Thompson, the judge said.

Mangione is accused of murdering Thompson on a Midtown sidewalk on Dec. 4, 2024, in a violent protest of overpriced medical costs in the United States. If the jury accepts his defense — that he killed the executive in the throes of a psychiatric crisis — they could find him guilty of first-degree manslaughter instead of second-degree murder, if the judge allows consideration of the lesser charge.

The jury could also reject that claim and find him guilty of second degree murder.

Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, on Wednesday said his team had sought to seal the request concerning his defense strategy because it was not available in his federal case, and that it was prejudicial to that prosecution involving “the exact same facts.”

—New York Daily News

Georgia Republican leaders won’t pursue redistricting during special session

WASHINGTON — Georgia Republicans pulled back on plans to redraw the state’s congressional map during a special legislative session that began Wednesday, the day after primary runoffs set up high-stakes fall races for Senate, governor and other statewide offices.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp last month called a special session to address the state’s congressional boundaries, with an eye on making changes ahead of the 2028 elections. The move came as several states are reconsidering their House maps after a Supreme Court ruling that limited the use of race in drawing congressional districts.

But Republicans in the Georgia legislature said that as litigation to the state’s prior and current maps remains ongoing, they would not take up redistricting in this month’s special session.

“​​Changes to Georgia’s maps should take place only when members of the General Assembly and citizens have been given ample opportunity to gather the facts, provide input, and engage in meaningful discussion,” Republican state House leaders wrote in a Wednesday letter to Kemp.

This fall’s race to replace Kemp, who is term-limited, will feature wealthy health care executive Rick Jackson, who won the GOP nomination in a runoff Tuesday, and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, meanwhile, is set to face GOP Rep. Mike Collins in a crucial Senate race.

Both contests are poised to be competitive and expensive affairs.

—CQ Roll-Call

Removal of namesake Sullivan challenger from Alaska’s Senate race could violate US Constitution, attorney says

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A decision by Alaska’s election officials to remove a namesake challenger to incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan from Alaska’s ballot violates the U.S. Constitution, according to an attorney advising the Alaska Legislature.

Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, a Republican, wrote this week in a letter to Dan J. Sullivan, a Petersburg resident who sought to challenge the Republican U.S. senator by the same name, that she believed he filed in an effort to confuse voters.

But according to a nonpartisan attorney who advises state lawmakers on legal matters, Beecher’s decision to remove the Petersburg Sullivan from the Aug. 18 primary ballot may have violated the U.S. Constitution, which sets out specific requirements to serve in Congress and precludes Congress from implementing new ones.

Under the U.S. Constitution, a person may serve in the U.S. Senate if they are at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and reside in the state they represent at the time they are elected. The provision has been interpreted to preclude states from adding other requirements to serve in Congress.

“Denying a Congressional candidate access to the ballot because the candidate has a particular name would violate the U.S. Constitution,” wrote legislative attorney Andrew Dunmire, responding to a question from Anchorage Democratic Rep. Zack Fields.

The Petersburg Sullivan, a retired teacher who sought to run as a Republican, said Wednesday that he had not decided yet whether to challenge the Division of Elections decision in court.

—Anchorage Daily News

Starmer rival Streeting ready to trigger contest for Downing Street

One of Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals, Wes Streeting, says he is ready to force an immediate contest if the U.K. Prime Minister does not step down after a special parliamentary election on Thursday.

Streeting, who is planning to compete in any race to replace Starmer, told the BBC in an interview the PM must set out a time line for his departure if fellow leadership rival Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election on Thursday.

If Starmer fails to announce his departure, Streeting would be prepared to trigger a contest himself by formally challenging the Prime Minister’s position as early as next week, he said.

The one-time ally of Starmer, who resigned from the Cabinet citing criticism of his leadership, has repeatedly said he is ready to stand in any contest to become the next Labour leader.

A victory for Burnham in Thursday’s by-election would see the Manchester Mayor return to Parliament and enter any subsequent leadership contest alongside Streeting.

Starmer should “be given some time to reflect over the weekend” following the result of the by-election, Streeting said, adding he would prefer the PM to “take a decision on his own terms.”

“We can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis and there will need to be a contest,” he said.

While attending the G7 meetings in France, the prime minister insisted he would resist pressure to step down, telling Sky he would fight to stay in office and wanted to offer Burnham a government job if he is elected to Parliament.

—Bloomberg News