Luigi Mangione Expected to Plead Guilty; USS Lincoln Sailors in Distress; Flock Surveillance Faces Backlash

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel, is expected to plead guilty in connection with his federal prosecution, according to sources familiar with the matter. A hearing was scheduled for today in Lower Manhattan. But ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmire cautioned that what is coming may not be a traditional plea deal — it could be something more unusual called an "open plea," where a defendant turns directly to the judge rather than negotiating with prosecutors.

What an "Open Plea" Means for Mangione

Buckmire explained the distinction carefully. A standard plea deal involves the government offering something — a reduced charge, a lighter sentence recommendation — in exchange for a guilty plea. But in Mangione's case, there is no sign prosecutors are offering concessions. Instead, the defense may be asking the judge directly: "What will you give me?"