Ilhan Omar staffer draws backlash for social media post downplaying Mangione's guilt after federal plea
Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in federal court to interstate stalking resulting in death and cyberstalking/use of interstate facilities resulting in death in connection with the December 4, 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Following the plea, Briana Rose Lee, listed as operations director for Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., posted on X that she would "never" be convinced Luigi Mangione was "a villain." Thompson was a husband and father of two who lived in the Minneapolis suburbs.
Single source · Not corroborated
Luigi Mangione told a federal court last week, "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan. I knew what I was doing," as part of his guilty plea to interstate stalking resulting in death and cyberstalking charges. The plea came as his defense team continues to contest state murder charges.
Shortly after the plea, Briana Rose Lee, whose X biography states she does "operations" for Rep. Ilhan Omar and whose LinkedIn profile shows she has worked for the congresswoman since January 2024, posted on X: "You'll never convince me that Luigi is a villain while everyone in the Epstein files is roaming free." Lee is also a former chairwoman of the Minneapolis Democratic-Farm-Labor party, according to Fox News Digital, which first reported the post.
The statement drew public replies on the platform. One X user wrote: "You know you have sold your soul for your political beliefs when you are supporting an assassin who murdered a Minnesota father in cold blood." Another wrote, "Luigi changed nothing about our healthcare system. And he killed an innocent man." Omar's office and campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.