Luigi Mangione has accepted nearly $300,000 in donations for his legal defense fund. Mangione is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024. He faces charges related to an alleged act of terrorism, stalking, and multiple state and federal offenses in both New York and Pennsylvania.
“Mangione is aware of the fund and very much appreciates the outpouring of support. My client plans on utilizing it to fight all three of the unprecedented cases against him,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s lead defense attorney. The fund, created by the December 4 Legal Committee, garnered more than $290,000 from over 10,000 individual donations.
However, former Washington, D.C., homicide detective and criminal trial attorney Ted Williams expressed disbelief that funds are being raised for someone accused of such a heinous crime. “It’s shocking that anybody would raise money for a person [accused of killing] someone in broad daylight in cold blood,” Williams said. “There are so many other causes in this country that a person could raise money for.”
The D4 Legal Committee, described as “a team of 15 volunteers around the United States,” was formed independently by Mangione’s supporters.
Spokespeople for the committee, Sam Beard and Jamie Peck, expressed satisfaction that Mangione is accepting the funds, stating that they believe his actions resonate with many Americans frustrated by the private health insurance industry.
Mangione’s legal defense fund grows
Mangione allegedly shot Thompson during UnitedHealthcare’s annual shareholder conference in an act prosecutors believe was intended to send a message to the health care insurance industry.
After the shooting, Mangione traveled by bus from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. Police discovered a manifesto on Mangione with details outlining his motives. “Luigi Mangione allegedly conducted the carefully premeditated and targeted execution of Brian Thompson to incite national debates,” said James Dennehy, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office.
“This alleged plot demonstrates a cavalier attitude towards humanity — deeming murder an appropriate recourse to satiate personal grievances.”
Mangione, originally from Maryland, graduated valedictorian from the Gilman School in Baltimore in 2016, and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020. Despite the initial surge in donations, larger contributions to Mangione’s legal fund have dwindled in recent weeks. The average recent donation has been between $5 and $25, with the largest contributions in the past 10 days being two $100 donations on February 5.
GiveSendGo, the platform hosting the fundraiser, issued refunds to some donations last month after further review. The largest refund was a $2,500 donation given on December 24, while the smallest refunds were multiple $5 donations given on various days. Mangione remains jailed in Brooklyn, with his next federal court date set for February 17 and a New York state court appearance scheduled for February 21.