NY Judge Dismisses Terror Charges, Murder Case Proceeds Against Luigi Mangione

• Sep 16, 2025

A New York judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Maryland native Luigi Mangione, but a murder charge remains.

Mangione had been facing both terrorism and murder counts in connection with a high-profile case that has drawn significant attention. The ruling means prosecutors can no longer pursue the terrorism allegations but will still press forward with the murder case.

According to court filings, the terrorism charges were considered legally insufficient and could not be supported under the state’s statute. The judge’s decision focused on the difficulty of proving that Mangione’s alleged actions met the threshold required for terrorism under New York law. Prosecutors had argued that Mangione’s conduct should qualify, but the court ultimately disagreed.

The ruling, however, does not provide Mangione complete relief. The judge made it clear that the murder charge remains intact and will proceed to trial. This means Mangione could still face a potential life sentence if convicted.

Defense attorneys welcomed the dismissal of the terrorism counts, saying the allegations had unfairly escalated the seriousness of the case. They argued that branding their client a terrorist was both misleading and prejudicial. While they acknowledged that the murder charge is still a serious legal battle, they considered the ruling an important partial victory.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, stressed that the most serious offense — the murder charge — is still moving forward. They said their focus will now be on securing a conviction for that crime, which carries the strongest penalties.

Legal experts note that terrorism charges at the state level are often challenging to sustain. Courts require evidence that the accused acted with intent to intimidate or coerce a population or government, a standard that is higher than typical criminal prosecutions. In this case, the judge determined the evidence did not meet that bar.

Mangione’s case remains in the spotlight as pretrial proceedings continue. The next court date will determine scheduling and motions related to the upcoming murder trial. For now, the ruling removes the terrorism label from the case, but the central allegation of murder ensures that the trial will remain closely watched.