Accused CEO Killer’s Lawyer Delivers Unique Response to Impression Question
The attorney representing the man accused in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson delivered an unexpected response during a press conference on Tuesday when asked about his initial impressions of his client.
“I Don’t Do Impressions”
Thomas Dickey, the lawyer for Luigi Mangione, was asked whether his client was worried following his arraignment on Monday. Dickey said, “Well, you know, I’m not gonna speculate on that, but like I said, use your common sense. If you were in a jail or confined in a state where supposedly there’s rumors going around, you’re going to be charged with murder, use your common sense.”
When another reporter inquired about Dickey’s first impressions of Mangione, the attorney replied, “I’m not— like the Airplane movie said, ‘Hey, give us your impression,’ and the guy says, ‘I don’t do impressions.’ So, I don’t — I wasn’t looking for impressions.” He went on to explain that his goal was to establish a bond with his client, saying, “What I was trying to do was form a bond with my client. I want him to trust me and I want him to be confident that I’m here for him and I feel that– I’m very pleased how that went.”
Dickey appeared to be referencing a scene from the comedy film *Airplane II: The Sequel*, where a prosecutor asks the character Dr. Stone in court, “Dr. Stone, would you give the court your impression of Mr. Striker?” Dr. Stone replies, “I’m sorry, I don’t do impressions. My training is in psychiatry.”
Facing Serious Charges
Mangione was arraigned Monday, facing charges of murder, second-degree possession of a forged document, and second and third-degree criminal possession of a firearm in connection with the shooting death of Thompson, who was gunned down on a Manhattan sidewalk last week.
