A handwritten manifesto allegedly penned by Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the assassination-style killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been obtained and published by journalist Ken Klippenstein.
Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday, found in possession of a 3D-printed gun, ammunition, and fake IDs.
In the manifesto, Mangione claims he acted alone, stating, “I wasn’t working with anyone,” and justifying his actions by citing grievances with the American healthcare system.
He criticized the system as the “most expensive” globally while pointing out the U.S. ranks 42nd in life expectancy. Mangione specifically targeted UnitedHealthcare, the largest private insurer in the U.S., asserting it symbolizes the industry’s greed and corruption.
Mangione’s writings provide insight into his motives, condemning what he sees as unchecked power and profit-driven practices in healthcare. The manifesto reads in part:
“To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience.
“I do apologize for any strife or traumas, but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy.
“United is the largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but has our life expectancy? No. The reality is, these [executives] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it.”
The manifesto also mentions that corruption and greed in healthcare have been highlighted by others for decades, yet no significant changes have occurred.
Mangione claims his actions were a response to the persistence of these issues, calling them “power games at play.”
Ken Klippenstein, who also published Mangione’s mugshots, criticized major media outlets for withholding the manifesto. He stated, “I’ve obtained a copy of suspected killer Luigi Mangione’s manifesto — the real one, not the forgery circulating online. Major media outlets are in possession of the document but have refused to publish it and have not explained their reasoning, despite quoting from it selectively.”
The manifesto adds a chilling layer to the case, revealing an ideology that mixes systemic critique with violent extremism, as authorities continue to investigate Mangione’s motives and actions.