Twenty-six-year-old Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last Dec. 4, has accepted a $300,000 donation that his supporters have earmarked for his legal expenses. Currently, more than 10,000 individual donations have come in to fund Mangione’s defense.
His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, who set up the online fundraiser on GiveSendGo said, “Luigi is aware of the fund and is very appreciative of people’s love and support. My client plans to use it to fight the charges brought against him.” Spokesperson Sam Beard of the 15-person legal committee formed on Dec. 4 that has been handling the fundraising on Mangione’s behalf said, “We are thrilled that Luigi is accepting these funds so that we can support his defense as strongly as we can.”
Beard added, “The American private health insurance industry has ruined countless lives by denying people access to basic care by burying families in medical debt. Not surprisingly, Luigi’s alleged actions are understood and supported by tens of millions of Americans.” Moreover, the spokesman pointed out the defendant’s family is not paying his legal fees.
Mangione who is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, continues to plead not guilty and faces a sentence of life in prison without parole. As News Nation reports, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani pointed out: that many sympathize with Mangione despite his alleged crimes due to a rejection of the U.S. health care system. “I have never seen a criminal defendant, much less charged with murder, receive so much sympathy both in the mainstream media and on social media. He’s sort of a folk hero to many,” he said.
