Karen Friedman Agnifilo

Karen Pauline Friedman Agnifilo ( ; ; born August 13, 1966) is an American attorney and legal commentator. She is of counsel at Agnifilo Intrater LLP and previously served as Chief Assistant District Attorney under Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Friedman Agnifilo is a frequent media analyst and co-hosts the popular legal podcasts MissTrial and Legal AF.

Education Karen Friedman Agnifilo earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1988 and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1992.

Career

Manhattan District Attorney's Office Friedman Agnifilo spent the majority of her career in public service in New York City's criminal justice system. She worked in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for over two decades, holding several senior roles. From 2014 to 2021, she served as Chief Assistant District Attorney, the second-highest position in the office. In this role, she oversaw more than 500 attorneys and a $120 million budget, and played a significant role in high-profile cases, including the prosecutions of Harvey Weinstein and Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. Friedman Agnifilo also served as Deputy Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit for four years.

During her tenure, Friedman Agnifilo was instrumental in establishing specialized units, including the Human Trafficking Unit, Hate Crimes Unit, Antiquities Trafficking Unit, Cybercrimes and Identity Theft Bureau, and the Terrorism Unit. She also helped develop Manhattan's first Mental Health Court, focusing on addressing underlying mental health issues in criminal cases.

General Counsel to the Mayor's Office Before her role as Chief Assistant District Attorney, Friedman Agnifilo served as General Counsel to the New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice during Michael Bloomberg's administration. She played a pivotal role in overhauling the city's criminal justice policies, focusing on reforms that addressed systemic issues. She has stated: "There's no crime necessarily that I wouldn't take or even set of factors that I wouldn't take. I do believe that everyone's entitled to a defense and to good representation, and I've always believed that."

Luigi Mangione defense

In December 2024, Friedman Agnifilo was retained to defend Luigi Mangione, who was charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Friedman Agnifilo publicly criticized the handling of Mangione's extradition and arraignment, alleging it was heavily politicized and undermined her client's right to a fair trial.

Media and public commentary Friedman Agnifilo is a frequent legal analyst on television networks, including CNN and MSNBC, providing insights on criminal law and high-profile cases. She is one of the most viewed legal analysts on YouTube. pharmaceutical CEO Martin Shkreli, NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere, and lobbyist Paul Manafort. The two met in 1992 at the Manhattan DA's office and married on August 25, 1996. During her tenure as Chief Assistant District Attorney, Friedman Agnifilo had to recuse herself around 20 times to avoid conflicts of interest in cases that her husband was involved with.

The couple has three adult children. Their twin daughters' interest in the Black Lives Matter movement influenced Agnifilo's views on criminal justice reform. They also have a child with autism. One of her daughters became a mother in 2023.