A major development today in New York as Luigi Manion, charged with the murder of a health insurance company chief executive, formally pleaded not guilty in federal court.

Manion, twenty-six years old, faces four charges: two counts of stalking, one of murder, and one firearms offense. Standing in court wearing a tan prison jumpsuit, he entered his plea before a federal judge.

Ahead of the arraignment, prosecutors officially filed notice to seek the death penalty, arguing Manion killed Brian Thompson to amplify an ideological message and incite resistance against the health insurance industry.

The defense immediately challenged the move, claiming that public statements made by the attorney general had compromised Manion’s right to a fair trial. They argue those remarks suggested guilt prematurely, prejudicing the jury pool.

The judge has given the defense until later in June to submit formal motions opposing the death penalty.

In a surprising twist, Manion’s attorneys are also pushing for the federal case to proceed before any state-level proceedings, citing the seriousness of the potential death sentence.

The next hearing is scheduled for December, but the trial itself is not expected to begin before 2026, as both sides prepare for a lengthy legal fight.