NEW YORK – The defense fund for Luigi Mangione, accused of the brazen murder of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, has soared past $722,000, bolstered by a staggering $36,500 donation from an anonymous supporter. Today Pakistan News reports on this unprecedented financial surge, spotlighting a case that’s gripping global attention, including Pakistan’s online community.
The latest contribution, confirmed by the New York Post, marks the largest single donation to Mangione’s legal defense to date, pushing the GiveSendGo fund beyond $722K as of March 13 (X Post 7). The anonymous donor reportedly pointed to a unified public sentiment as their motivation, reflecting a wave of support that’s stunned observers. Mangione, 26, allegedly gunned down Thompson on December 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel in a targeted attack, sparking a five-day manhunt that ended with his arrest in Pennsylvania (Web ID 0).
Legal analysts are reeling from the fundraising’s scale. NewsNation’s Jesse Weber, a legal contributor also on Law & Crime Network, voiced disbelief on Elizabeth Vargas Reports: “I’ve never seen anything like this. People aren’t raising money because they think he’s innocent—they’re backing what he allegedly did.” Weber highlighted that unlike typical crowdfunding for defendants with weak evidence or contested death penalty cases, Mangione’s supporters rally despite damning proof—fingerprints on a water bottle, a matching 3D-printed gun, and shell casings etched with “Deny, Defend, Depose” (Web ID 1).
Facing federal murder and stalking charges, plus state counts in New York and Pennsylvania, Mangione has pleaded not guilty (Web ID 3). His next federal court date looms on March 19, with his defense team, led by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, vowing to leverage the funds across all three cases. The $36,500 boost, reported on March 12, underscores a polarizing narrative—some see Mangione as a folk hero against corporate greed, a sentiment echoing on X posts from Pakistan and beyond.
