CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Confronts CEO Killing Suspect’s Lawyer — Repeatedly Asks Do They ‘Have The Wrong Guy?’
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins confronted attorney Thomas Dickey over the facts arrayed against his client Luigi Mangione — who was arrested Monday for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — and repeatedly asked if he thinks cops “have the wrong guy?”
After a frantic manhunt, Mangione was apprehended when a McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania, recognized him from the many surveillance stills released after the shooting and called the police. He was arrested while in possession of multiple fake IDs, a 3D-printed gun with a suppressor, a manifesto and notebooks, and around $10,000.00 in hard currency.
Mangione is charged with:
- Murder in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree
On Tuesday night’s edition of CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Collins asked Dickey about his attempt to fight extradition to New York and ran through the damning evidence against Mangione:
COLLINS: Well, being on the other side of it, you were inside that courtroom, of course, and we learned about what happened in there. You’re fighting extradition for him to New York. Why are you — why are you fighting that? It seems like it’s inevitable that he will be sent to New York.
DICKEY: Well, that may be. But again, the Constitution — and I know, keep bringing up that word today, unless we forget about that.
But the Constitution gives you certain rights, and we need to make informed decision. And the law permits, and the Constitution permits that somebody in Luigi’s position has the opportunity to look at evidence, make sure the government follows through a process. And that’s what we’re doing.
So again, I’ve been in this case, probably about 12, 14, hours, maybe, whatever, give or take, and I haven’t seen a spec of evidence at all.
I argued today, at the extradition hearing, I still haven’t received details about the charges that he’s facing in New York. I heard your introduction, and looking into that. But so I — you know, we as lawyers need to make informed decisions, and we need to get our hands and our eyes on some evidence.
COLLINS: Yes, I mean, I’m looking at the charges right here. It’s murder, a loaded firearm, two counts of that, a forged instrument, and criminal possession of a weapon as well. I mean, those are the charges from New York.
I mean, so you’re not — as you’re fighting extradition, you’re not actually arguing that the authorities in New York have the wrong guy, are you?
DICKEY: Well, I’d — haven’t seen any evidence that they’re having the right guy. I can tell you that much. So, I don’t know anything about that. There’s identification issues that are present. And so, I don’t — you know, like I said, this is why I need to look at some things, and they need to convince me, you know?
I try to remind people, and it’s a shame that we forget about this presumption of innocence that the Constitution gives all Americans. And people don’t worry about the Constitution, until they’re facing charges or accusations against them. Then trust me, Kaitlan, the–
COLLINS: Yes, well, and–
DICKEY: –the Constitution matters. But–
COLLINS: And of course — of course it does.
DICKEY: Yes. Go ahead.
COLLINS: And I know you highlighted earlier and emphasized innocent until proven guilty. I understand that.
But I read the criminal — or I read the police report from when he was arrested. He initially gave them a false name. And then, when they asked to confirm his identity, he said that he shouldn’t have lied to them about it. I mean, that would seem to be that they do have the right person.
Given that, he had a gun on him, he had a fake New Jersey ID that he used to check into a hostel, I mean, is none of that enough for you personally to know that they do have the right guy?
DICKEY: Well, first of all, that’s a piece of paper. I know you probably can’t tell. But I’m five-six. I could write on that I’m six- five, and all this other kind of stuff. So, that’s written on paper.
What’s nice about the law is, we’ll have a hearing. I can cross- examine witnesses and find out — look at reports, and find out what they have and what they don’t have.
So again, that’s just written on a criminal complaint. Without getting into the details of that. I don’t see any evidence of a forgery. They’re going to have to at least prove a prima facie case, which is less than the beyond a reasonable doubt. But I need to see these things. Right now, I have one piece of paper–
COLLINS: Have you–
DICKEY: –and again, so. Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry–
Watch above via CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins.
