American lawyer and politician, New York County District Attorney
A roundup of recent criminal cases across the U.S. reports on a murder case in Escondido, a court dismissal in Florida, a rapper/artist case, and other local incidents. The updates reflect ongoing legal proceedings and new court actions as of June 8, 2026.
The Supreme Court, in an unsigned 6-3 decision, has upheld Pedro Hernandez’s murder conviction for Etan Patz, reversing a lower court that had granted him a new trial. The ruling clarifies the limits of federal review over state court decisions and preserves a decades-long effort by Manhattan prosecutors. Patz disappeared in 1979, becoming a national symbol in the search for missing children.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said federal agents have contacted friends, former staff and donors tied to him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and has accused President Donald Trump of ordering a politically motivated investigation as he considers a 2028 presidential run. Multiple outlets report the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California has been handling separate inquiries that began with local whistleblower tips, including probes into the first partner’s taxes and former chief of staff Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Luigi Mangione has withdrawn a planned psychiatric "extreme emotional disturbance" notice in the New York state murder case over the Dec. 4, 2024, killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson. Judges have unsealed related records. Mangione still faces separate federal charges and his state trial remains scheduled for Sept. 8, 2026.
Prosecutors have dropped the third-degree rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after the accuser chose not to testify in what would have been a fourth trial. The move leaves Weinstein facing other convictions and ongoing sentencing in related cases.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is questioning Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, about his past with Trump, the handling of the Epstein files, and a controversial $1.8 billion fund; Republicans and Democrats press on independence and accountability as the nomination moves forward.
A Manhattan judge has handed a life sentence to Isaac Argro, who murdered Azsia Johnson in 2022 as she pushed her infant in a stroller. Prosecutors say Argro abused Johnson, and the jury found him guilty after a two-hour trial. Johnson’s family described the impact as devastating while urging a severe punishment.
The Guardian reports deadly ICE incidents amid growing calls to abolish ICE and hold officials to account. Victims’ families urge prosecutions and retroactive liability, signaling a broader push for systemic reform and legal repercussions for those involved.
The Supreme Court has been asked to pause a large damages judgment against the Palestinian Authority and the PLO as they appeal a 2025 reinstatement of a case tied to 2002-04 Jerusalem attacks. Lower courts previously voided the verdict, then Congress updated the Anti-Terrorism Act; the high court’s action could impact funding for West Bank services.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges related to the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, with an overflow courtroom planned for media and public access as debates over anonymity, evidence, and trial logistics intensify.
Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to two stalking charges tied to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His lawyers have immediately asked a New York state judge to dismiss state murder charges on double jeopardy grounds. Sentencing in the federal case is scheduled for Dec. 18; a state trial had been set to start Sept. 8.
Mangione has pleaded guilty in a federal case accusing him of stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. A state murder trial is set for September 8, while the federal case could lead to a life sentence. Prosecutors say a large trove of evidence supports the guilt, including surveillance video and a 3D-printed pistol.