Atop donor to Luigi Mangione’s legal defense fund cited President Donald Trump’s executive order on the death penalty as their reason for giving.
President Donald Trump ordered the attorney general to pursue the death penalty “for all crimes of a severity demanding its use” in an executive order signed January 20. The order ended the moratorium on federal executions enacted by former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is eligible for the death penalty if convicted of federal murder. He is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024.
He was arraigned in federal court on two counts of stalking, one count of murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense. He is also facing multiple state charges in New York and Pennsylvania.
An anonymous donor gave $11,000 to Mangione’s defense fund. The donation is the largest listed on the GiveSendGo fundraiser.
The donor said the death penalty should not be “politicized,” but they are concerned that it will continue to be, given Trump’s executive order
I am also concerned about the severe infringement on the defendant’s right to a fair trial and due process, particularly since his juries are effectively pre-tainted,” the donor said
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, an attorney for Mangione, previously told Newsweek that her client will use the money to fight his cases in multiple jurisdictions.
“Luigi 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,” Agnifilo said in a statement.
The fund has raised over $485,000.
Mangione released a statement to the public on a website managed by his attorneys.
“I am overwhelmed by—and grateful for—everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support,” Mangione said.
Trump, in an executive order: “The Government’s most solemn responsibility is to protect its citizens from abhorrent acts, and my Administration will not tolerate efforts to stymie and eviscerate the laws that authorize capital punishment against those who commit horrible acts of violence against American citizens.”
Mangione, in a statement posted to his website: “Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive.”
Mangione’s next appearance in New York state court is scheduled for Friday. His next appearance in Pennsylvania state court is set for February 24.
Last modified: February 20, 2025
