Diehard Luigi Mangione fans rally outside NYC courthouse as he pleads not guilty to murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in federal death penalty case

Diehard Luigi Mangione fans protested nan feds’ decease punishment case against their sick leader Friday — arsenic he pleaded not blameworthy to nan cold-blooded sidesplitting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione, 26, stood successful tan jailhouse garb erstwhile he was asked to participate his plea successful Manhattan national tribunal to a four-count indictment charging him pinch murder, stalking and a firearms discourtesy for nan shocking Dec. 4 deed connected nan health security bigwig.

“Not guilty,” he said,

The plea kicks disconnected a conflict for Mangione’s life, arsenic nan feds person said they will activity nan decease punishment — overmuch to nan chagrin of astir 20 fans flamboyantly supporting him outside.

“Luigi is simply a autumn guy,” declared April Smith, 49, who trekked from Long Island City wearing golden eyelashes, a yellow- and red-sequined garment and fluffy Uggs to support Mangione.

Smith said she was motivated to be her first ever tribunal lawsuit aft proceeding Mangione could beryllium sentenced to death, if convicted.

Her begetter was a corrections serviceman astatine Joliet Correctional Center, Illinois, of “The Blues Brothers” and “Prison Break” fame, and told her scary stories of inmates being mistreated connected decease row.

“The decease punishment is inhumane,” she said. “I americium hoping he will find nan correct group to thief him retired of his situation.”

Many protesters’ signs seen extracurricular nan courthouse besides held nan anti-health security institution slogan, “Deny, Delay, Depose.”

The usage of nan three-word motto has skyrocketed successful fame aft it was reported that nan ominous connection was scribbled into ammunition recovered astatine nan Manhattan execution scene.

His Friday arraignment was Mangione’s first quality successful national tribunal since US Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that she’d return nan uncommon step of moving for superior reward successful nan shocking slaying.

In a announcement of intent to activity nan decease punishment revenge Thursday, prosecutors cited Mangione’s alleged “intent to provoke broad-based guidance to nan victim’s industry.”

The feds activity nan decease punishment against Mangione, seemingly successful portion because of nan cult pursuing his apprehension — which has translated to a $1 cardinal ineligible defense fund.

New York authorities outlawed superior reward successful 2004. But national prosecutors tin still execute defendants — if they person a assemblage to unanimously motion disconnected connected a government-sanctioned killing.

If they did truthful successful nan Mangione case, it would beryllium nan first Manhattan national execution successful 70 years.

The Maryland autochthonal is separately charged successful Manhattan authorities tribunal pinch execution arsenic an enactment of coercion and different charges that transportation a imaginable life condemnation without parole.

The authorities lawsuit is presently connected gait to caput to proceedings first.