Luigi Mangione, the man accused of the high-profile killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, received a more than noteworthy boost to his legal defense fund. Marking his 27th birthday yesterday, Mangione's defense fund surpassed \$1 million, fueled by what has been described as a surge of grassroots donations. A statement from the December 4 Legal Committee indicates over 28,000 contributors banded together to reach this financial milestone, as reported by CBS News.
In a display of strong support, some individuals contributed $27 yesterday in honor of Mangione's birthday. One anonymous donor expressed their affection with a $27 donation, accompanied by a message stating, "Happy 27th Birthday to the man, the myth, the legend." These sentiments, reflecting the enthusiasm surrounding Mangione, have resonated throughout the fundraising efforts on the GiveSendGo platform, where the campaign reached $1,042,800 by yesterday afternoon. Sam Beard, a spokesperson for the legal committee, referred to Mangione as a "folk hero" among millions, according to a New York Post article.
Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, is facing with standing trial for 11 state charges in addition to federal charges. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, stalking, and firearms offenses in his Manhattan federal death penalty case. His legal team has vocally sought the dismissal of at least two charges in the New York indictment and criticized what Attorney Karen Agnifilo described as a "legal tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors" and an "unprecedented prosecutorial one-upmanship," as CBS News detailed.
The accusations against Mangione stem from the events of December 4, 2024, when Brian Thompson was shot outside a midtown hotel as he was en route to an investors conference. The subsequent manhunt covered significant ground in New York and ended with Mangione's arrest at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania. Since his arrest and throughout his ongoing legal battles, Mangione has gained both a significant defense fund and a vocal group of supporters, who have shown their backing at court proceedings and through financial contributions. The December 4 Legal Committee, noting the rise in donations, stated that Mangione’s case is expected to continue drawing public attention. The fund is currently positioned to assist with three ongoing legal cases involving Mangione. At the same time, protests targeting the healthcare industry have contributed to the broader attention surrounding the matter, as noted by the New York Post.
