Fans of Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are crowdfunding a defense fund for him, having raised thousands of dollars to support the 26-year-old and assist with his legal fees.
Mangione was arrested for the Dec. 4 murder of Thompson, who was shot to death by a hooded figure in the streets of New York City. He was apprehended in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after the incident after an employee tipped law enforcement.
An anonymous group of fans referring to themselves as "The December 4th Legal Committee" is behind the largest online crowdfunded defense fund for Mangione to date, with their GiveSendGo page having raised over $120,000 as of Monday morning.
"We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the group said in a statement.
While the GiveSendGo page dedicated to Mangione seemed to have been taken down briefly, it was quickly restored on Thursday, with a spokesperson telling ABC News that the company "operates with a principle of not preemptively determining guilt or innocence."
"Our platform does not adjudicate legal matters or the validity of causes. Instead, we allow campaigns to remain live unless they violate the specific terms outlined in our Terms of Use. Importantly, we do allow campaigns for legal defense funds, as we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process," the GiveSendGo spokesperson said in a statement.
"We understand the concerns raised by such campaigns and take these matters seriously. When campaigns are reported, our team conducts a thorough review to ensure they comply with our policies. While other platforms may choose a different approach, GiveSendGo's core value is to provide a space where all individuals, no matter their situation, can seek and receive support, with donors making their own informed decisions."
However, other fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe have removed funds created on behalf of Mangione, citing reasons listed within the website's Terms of Service as justification.
"GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded."
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