A viral image shared on Threads purports to show an X post from Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Verdict: False
Check Your Fact conducted an advanced search of Mangione’s verified X account @PepMangione and did not find any results for the purported post.
Fact Check:
Mangione appeared in court on Feb. 21 for the first time since his December arraignment, according to NBC News. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of terror and murder, the outlet reported.
The Threads image, which has received over 10,000 likes as of writing, purports to show an X post from Mangione shared to his verified handle @PepMangione. “He who saves his Country does not violate any law,” the text of the purported post reads. The quote shared via the purported X post is attributed to French leader Napoleon Bonaparte.
The claim is false. Check Your Fact conducted an advanced search of Mangione’s verified X account @PepMangione and did not find any results for the purported post. The last time Mangione appears to have made an X post is May 14, 2024, when he discussed cellular agriculture, agronomics, and lab-farming. Mangione also re-shared multiple posts to his verified X account in June 2024.
Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to suggest Mangione made the purported post. In fact, the opposite is true. On Feb. 21, PolitiFact debunked the claim. According to the outlet, the image has been altered and originally stems from a Feb. 15 X post shared by President Donald Trump. (RELATED: Threads Post Does Not Show Authentic Medical Report From Butler Assassination Attempt)
Mangione is accused of stalking and murdering Thompson in New York City in December 2024, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Mangione has been charged with “one count of using a firearm to commit murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison,” among other federal charges, the same release indicates.
This is not the first time a false claim about Mangione has circulated online. Check Your Fact previously debunked an image shared on Threads purporting to show the New York Police Department (NYPD)’s official mugshot of Mangione.
Read the full article here
