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cover of episode 7: The Spectacle: America’s Most Expensive Perp Walk

7: The Spectacle: America’s Most Expensive Perp Walk

2024/12/22
logo of podcast Delay, Deny, Depose: Luigi Mangione and the Assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Delay, Deny, Depose: Luigi Mangione and the Assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Shownotes Transcript

Seventeen armed officers. A helicopter landing in Manhattan. The Mayor of New York City as an escort. When authorities transported Luigi Mangione on December 19th, 2024, they put on a show that rivaled a Hollywood blockbuster.

But why did a 26-year-old programmer accused of killing one person require more security than terrorist masterminds? Through exclusive footage and firsthand accounts, this episode exposes the theatrical nature of Mangione's transport and its multimillion-dollar price tag to taxpayers. While 9/11 conspirators and Olympic bombers were moved without fanfare, Mangione's "Hannibal Lecter-style perp walk" became a media sensation.

As his defense fund surpasses $159,000 and supporters gather outside courthouses, we examine a crucial question: Was this unprecedented display about public safety, or was it political theater? And most importantly - who was this show really for?