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A legal defense fund for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has garnered over $100,000 on GiveSendGo after being banned from other platforms. Mangione, a Maryland native and University of Pennsylvania graduate, is charged in Pennsylvania and New York for the December 4 fatal shooting and subsequent five-day manhunt.
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The fundraiser, initiated by an anonymous group called The December 4th Legal Committee, has raised $111,981 of its $200,000 goal, stating its mission as supporting Mangione’s constitutional right to fair legal representation. While GiveSendGo briefly suspended the campaign, it was reinstated after a review, with the platform defending its policy to allow legal defense funds unless they violate specific terms.
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Anonymous donors expressed support for Mangione, some citing personal grievances with the healthcare system. One donor recalled childhood medical debt that devastated their family, writing, That he is a hero. Another described Mangione’s actions as a response to political corruption and corporate extortion, questioning the harm caused by healthcare systems like UnitedHealthcare.
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In a statement, GiveSendGo emphasized its commitment to due process, stating that it allows campaigns for legal defense funds, as it believes everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process. The platform contrasted its stance with GoFundMe, which removed Mangione-related campaigns, citing its prohibition against fundraising for the legal defense of violent crimes.
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Mangione-related products, like decorations and themed clothing, have reportedly been removed from Etsy without warning. Mangione’s legal team has addressed the criticism surrounding the benefit. Thomas Dickey, his Pennsylvania attorney, said the financing shows widespread support for the presumption of innocence, despite his own discomfort accepting such gifts. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to accusations of possessing a phantom pistol and falsifying identification in Pennsylvania. He is also contesting his extradition to New York, where he faces murder charges.
Mangione has hired Karen Agnifilo Friedman, a former Manhattan chief prosecutor, to represent him in New York. With opinions on the fundraising efforts and the wider ramifications of the American criminal justice system being severely divided, the case continues to garner national attention.
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