The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4 sparked a national conversation about health care costs, leading to protests from lawmakers and support for the shooting from frustrated consumers.
It also sparked a days-long search for the shooter that ultimately led to the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania.
Mangione has been charged with state crimes in New York and Pennsylvania, including murder as an act of terrorism. He was later charged with federal crimes that make Mangione eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Thomas Dickey, an attorney representing Mangione in Pennsylvania, said his client intends to plead not guilty to his charges.
In the weeks since Thompson's death, misinformation about the shooting and Mangione has circulated. Here's a summary of the checks from the USA TODAY Fact Check Team:
Claim: Pictures show Luigi Mangione's manifesto
Our rating: Changed
The pictures do not show Mangione's manifesto. The NYPD had not released the alleged shooter's manifesto as of December 17, and the information provided by police does not match the document shown in the post. The actual manifesto is shorter and handwritten.
Full fact check: Viral images do not show Luigi Mangione's manifesto, which was handwritten
Claim: Biden can pardon Luigi Mangione
Our rating: False
Presidents can only pardon individuals for federal crimes. Experts have told USA TODAY that Mangione is not eligible for a presidential pardon because he has only been accused of state-level crimes since Dec. 16.
Full fact check: Biden cannot pardon Luigi Mangione if he is not accused of federal crimes
Claim: Video shows UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson talking about Nancy Pelosi
Our rating: False
The video shows another man with the same name as the murdered CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
Full fact check: The video does not show the murdered CEO talking about working with Nancy Pelosi
Claim: Image shows New York Times headline calling “glorification” of Luigi Mangione “anti-Israel.”
Our rating: Changed
The image has been digitally edited to change the headline. A spokesman for The New York Times said the newspaper never published it.
Full fact check: The New York Times did not publish an “anti-Israel” headline about Luigi Mangione
Claim: Image shows UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect's fake ID
Our Rating: Satire
The image shows a replica of a prop from the film “Superbad,” as the name “McLovin” makes clear. The image was digitally edited to add Mangione's face.
Full fact check: This isn't Luigi Mangione's fake ID. It's a manipulated “Superbad” replica
Claim: Murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO should testify against Nancy Pelosi on insider trading charges
Our rating: False
A spokeswoman for California Rep. Nancy Pelosi said the claim was false. There is no credible evidence of an insider trading investigation against the former House Speaker, let alone that Thompson testified against her after his assassination.
Full fact check: There is no evidence that Brian Thompson should testify against Nancy Pelosi
The post suggests a connection between medical debt forgiveness and the shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
Our rating: Lack of context
The implied claim is false. The North Carolina medical debt relief highlighted in the post was announced in September, more than two months before Thompson's murder.
Complete fact check: Medical debt relief was announced months before the insurance chief was assassinated
Claim: Video shows people celebrating in New York after UnitedHealthcare CEO was killed
Our rating: False
The video is incorrectly titled. It was first shared in late November, about two weeks before the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and shows people partying after a concert.
Full fact check: The video shows one party after another, not a celebration of the murder of the insurance boss
Claim: The image shows a post by Elon Musk about the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect
Our rating: False
The image of the X contribution is a invention. There is no record of this in Musk's account.
Full fact check: No, Elon Musk didn't post any defending insurance companies after the CEO shooting
Claim: The image shows UnitedHealthcare's job advertisement for a new CEO
Our rating: Changed
The image is fictional. No such job posting appears on UnitedHealthcare's LinkedIn page or website, and a company spokesman said the listing was “fake.” The salary range listed is also well below the CEO compensation.
Full fact check: Image of job ad for UnitedHealthcare CEO following New York shooting is fake
Claim: The image shows Musk's post stating that the world cannot function without CEOs
Our rating: Changed
There is no evidence of such a post on Musk's account. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has not posted anything directly mentioning Thompson or UnitedHealthcare by name since the CEO's death.
Full fact check: Alleged Musk post about CEOs after UnitedHealthcare shooting is fabricated
Claim: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter identified as “Samuel H. Ide.”
Our rating: False
No credible news reports or police reports have identified the health care executive's shooter as “Samuel H. Ide.” The photo in the post shows comedian Sam Hyde, who has been repeatedly and falsely linked to high-profile attacks for years.
Full fact check: The post falsely links the comedian to the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CEO shooting fact check: False claims about Thompson, Mangione
