#brian thompson united healthcare

[vlad-theimplier]

they're just straight up admitting they didn't have evidence for the terrorism charge when they indicted him. they just made that up. they charged him with terrorism because they felt like it.

Well, no. That's not how this works or what it means.

They definitely didn't have as much evidence as they wanted, because one never does. They definitely had enough evidence to establish probable cause, because almost any evidence would be enough and because the grand jury returned the indictment. But in cases that are remotely complicated, evidence collection doesn't stop at indictment or arraignment.

Now, I don't think it was morally right or tactically sound of them to indict him for Terrorism, and I think the legal situation is up in the air and will be fleshed out by this case—there's no way to say for sure whether the charge will stick on the facts or the law. It's pretty obvious from the evidence that he did kill Thompson as a political statement, at least in part, but less clear whether that automatically meets the definition of the Terrorism statute in NY law.

What I think people need to be careful of is knee-jerk reactions. The CSI Effect is strong, as is the Ace Attorney Effect (or whatever we want to call it). But civics education in the US is garbage, people have strong feelings about the case (rightfully), and there are going to be a lot of erroneous takes out there in the months to come.

still looking for evidence -> they didn't have the evidence before

they're just straight up admitting they didn't have evidence for the terrorism charge when they indicted him. they just made that up. they charged him with terrorism because they felt like it.

[hot-wire-this-old-car]

compilation of my favorites so far. this energy for 2025 please

[switchkick]

[cornyonmains]

Something I find very interesting about this CEO assassination is that the guy who did it has basically become an American hero.

They're probably quite worried about what will happen when they catch this guy, especially with the level of public support he has. If they catch him alive and he gets to air his grievances, he could unite the entire country against the private healthcare system. It could go to trial and result in jury nullification, which would basically send a message to the American public that catching a rich body comes without consquences.

If they kill him to keep his mouth shut, I'd say people will burn cities to the ground, and it could potentially provoke even more anger against private health insurance. In a powder keg, it only takes one person lighting the match.

I know it sounds over the top, but a figurehead is a powerful thing, and that's what this shooter is. The rich understand it. That's why Blue Cross just magically decided they were going to pay for anesthesia again. Those dead-eyed psychopaths were going to take everything they could until someone shot that guy and that's the gospel truth.

Keep the hate fire burning. Watching their fear is the closest I've come to knowing joy since the Bush administration.

[vlad-theimplier]

Back on my criminal procedural soapbox to tell you that the linked article (which is scary! and good to know!) does not in the slightest entail any part of "Because an alleged terrorist has no right to a jury; they are blocking jury nullification."

It is scary and good to know that health insurance leaders have the ability to pressure DOJ officials into bringing federal charges against someone (which appear at first glance to be factually solid, even if it ends up being a bad tactical move to bring them, as I suspect). It is scary and good to know that that ability comes from financial leverage over the top of the federal justice system.

But terrorism charges don't take away a defendant's right to a jury. That's not a thing. He's an American citizen accused of crimes on US soil--he's not getting a military tribunal like the ones so common during the "War on Terror." The DOJ and NYS officials are certainly worried about jury nullification, but they're not "blocking" it. By definition, it's pretty hard to block, and often to detect.

Anyway, misinfo is everywhere, and just because you agree with someone's big-picture opinion doesn't mean they're right. Check your sources.

Last week, it emerged that health insurance leaders pressured the DOJ to bring federal charges against Luigi Mangione. This week, I discovered the top 3 officials at DOJ all collected paychecks from healthcare companies before serving in government: shorturl.at/lgLIU

[sparklebyte]

“here’s what we know about the uhc shooter”

WRONG! He is a suspect and we should treat him as such. He should be treated as innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent. He’s a person of interest not the killer. I don’t care what the media or authorities are saying, he’s a human being who deserves a fair trial and deserves to be treated as innocent until proven otherwise.

[space-blue]

some of my favs

[cat-mermaid]

fucking yes

[strakatea]

It is really disturbing how people can lose their humanity and threaten you just because you *checks notes* sentenced their child to death :'(

[lun-rk800]

When you kill a healthcare ceo, it’s terrorism. When someone shoots your kid in elementary school, it’s thoughts and prayers for like a week and then they move on. It truly shows the fact that terrorism is whatever the american government wants it to mean.

[mysharona1987]

So, Ben is going through some things these days.

[teamfreewilldcats]

I can’t stop thinking about the uhc shooter and what a wild experience he must be having right now. Idk how much you can look at the news or scroll the internet while on the run for murder, but man. Imagine. You spend who knows how long planning a brazen public assassination, cleanly pop a dude in the middle of one of the busiest downtowns in the world, bike away fueled by nothing but the thrill of vengeance and some Starbucks, and spark one of the largest manhunts in recent history. And when you finally go online to see what you’ve wrought, the entire world is laugh reacting NYT headlines and has collectively decided that you’re off the hook this time, king.

Then pictures of your face get released 24 hours later and everyone is like actually this guy did nothing wrong AND he’s hot.

[mostly-funnytwittertweets]

[possessesnightshift]

maybe if that united healthcare shooter knocks out 33 more CEOs he'll be up to 34 felonies and he can run for president...

[thotsandpreyers]

“HOPE” spotted in Washington D.C.

[sparklebyte]

oh so you’re telling me the guy had a 3 page handwritten explanation of his motives and mindset and a gun and silencer that matches the description despite it being a week since the guy was shot? hmmmm interesting