Mangione’s lawyers press for in-person Pa. hearing as strategy to drop gun charges

Luigi Mangione’s defense team is pressing to have him appear in person for a Pennsylvania court hearing on gun charges tied to his arrest in Blair County, arguing the move could force the lesser gun counts to be dropped. Manhattan federal prosecutors say they will not transfer Mangione to Blair County for a Pennsylvania hearing while the broader terrorism and murder case in New York remains unresolved. The effort hinges on Mangione’s rights to a speedy trial and the right to appear in person at critical stages of proceedings.

In a court filing this week, Mangione’s attorney wrote that the defendant demands and insists that he be present in person for any and all critical stage proceedings in Pennsylvania. Legal experts told The Post that the gambit could create pressure on Blair County prosecutors to act quickly or risk having the gun charges dismissed for failing to uphold Mangione’s rights, particularly if they cannot guarantee a timely in-person appearance given competing New York cases. Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani called the tactic a smart move, noting that the defense might be attempting to complicate the Pennsylvania case by insisting on in-person appearances while more serious charges are handled elsewhere. It is not seen as a bid to have Mangione prosecuted in Pennsylvania; rather, the strategy could push the state case toward dismissal if the court cannot satisfy his constitutional rights.

Mangione is charged with terrorism and murder in Manhattan, and he faces additional weapons possession, forgery, and false identification charges stemming from a December 4 incident outside a Manhattan hotel. Authorities say he then fled for five days before being tracked to a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa., where he was arrested and jailed in Blair County on the gun-related counts. Federal prosecutors have said they will not move Mangione from a Brooklyn federal lockup to Pennsylvania for a hearing until the federal case has concluded, citing logistics, costs and safety concerns associated with moving him.

Notably, Blair County prosecutor Peter Weeks has warned that moving Mangione for a Pennsylvania hearing amid high-profile New York charges could be disruptive and costly. In court papers, Weeks wrote that the logistics and costs for transportation and housing of the defendant were significantly greater than for a typical inmate due to media attention and security concerns. Mangione’s defense, however, has asserted that the Pennsylvania prosecutor’s office has not shown due diligence in ensuring Mangione’s in-person availability for Pennsylvania proceedings. Weeks responded to The Post via email that Blair County will proceed with the case while Mangione remains uncooperative about remote participation.

Mangione’s team did not respond to requests for comment. The legal confrontation in Pennsylvania comes as Mangione faces two clusters of serious charges in New York—state-level murder charges and federal terrorism and murder charges—where the possibility of the death penalty has been noted. Rahmani and other experts have suggested that the Pennsylvania case could be abandoned if it cannot be pursued in a manner consistent with Mangione’s constitutional rights, especially if his presence cannot be secured for required hearings. The interplay between state and federal cases in this high-profile matter underscores ongoing tensions in U.S. criminal justice, where venue, rights, and logistics can shape whether charges proceed or are dismissed.