The top donors to Luigi Mangione’s legal defense fund have given various reasons for supporting the alleged killer, including concerns about the politicization of the death penalty and worries about a fair trial. The GiveSendGo fundraiser has raised over $850,001 as of a recent count. Mangione, who is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, has gained support from those who see his alleged actions as a stand against the health insurance industry, with some calling for “Free Luigi.” Facing federal charges of murder through the use of a firearm, as well as state charges in New York and Pennsylvania, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has urged federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for Mangione.
The largest donor to Mangione’s defense fund contributed $36,500 anonymously, expressing concerns about potential prosecutorial mishandling and the support Mangione has received. The second-largest donation, also anonymous, was $30,000, with the donor questioning whether the case is politicized and expressing doubt about the evidence. Another anonymous donor who gave $11,000 criticized the politicization of the death penalty and raised concerns about Mangione receiving a fair trial. President Donald Trump’s executive order on the death penalty has added to the concern, with one donor worried about the infringement of Mangione’s right to due process.
The fundraising efforts for Mangione’s legal defense have also attracted donors who believe in the fair treatment of the accused and object to the death penalty being used for political purposes. One donor who gave $5,698 criticized the violation of Mangione’s constitutional rights and the presumption of guilt narrative being pushed by some. Another donor who contributed $5,000 found the politicization of potential death deeply disturbing. Some donors are troubled by what they see as a corporate America doubt about Mangione’s case and an overcharging of the accused. Concerns about a fair trial and due process for Mangione have been raised by several donors who fear his juries may be pre-tainted.
In response to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to seek the death penalty for Mangione, one of his lawyers criticized the move as defending the broken healthcare industry and vowed to fight the federal charges, as well as the New York and Pennsylvania charges. Mangione is scheduled to appear in federal court in April and has a hearing for his New York state case set for June. The high-stakes legal battle between state and federal prosecutors for Mangione’s life has been described as a corrupt web of government dysfunction. Supporters of Mangione are rallying against what they see as a government effort to commit pre-meditated, state-sponsored murder against him. The case continues to draw attention and support from those who believe in a fair legal process for all individuals, regardless of the allegations against them.
