Luigi Mangione, the suspect within the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is in jail awaiting trial. However he nonetheless managed to launch a new website, alongside together with his first official assertion since his arrest, by way of his authorized workforce.
The message states that Mangione, who’s being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Heart, has been “overwhelmed by” and “grateful for” the assist he’s acquired within the type of letters from those that have been moved by his story.
Though federal expenses in opposition to the 26-year-old embody stalking and first-degree homicide for allegedly gunning down Thompson in entrance of a New York Metropolis resort, some Individuals who’re pissed off with the state of the medical insurance business have celebrated him as a folks hero. Not lengthy after a manhunt for the shooter started, there have been memes, donations, merchandise, and conversations over the potential for copycats.
“Powerfully, this assist has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from throughout the nation, and across the globe,” Mangione stated within the assertion. “Whereas it’s inconceivable for me to answer to most letters, please know that I learn each one that I obtain. Thanks once more to everybody who took the time to write down. I stay up for listening to extra sooner or later.”
Mangione’s authorized workforce additionally shared a notice on the homepage explaining why they felt the necessity to create the location. “Because of the extraordinary quantity of inquiries and outpouring of assist, this website was created and is maintained by Luigi Mangione’s New York authorized protection workforce to supply solutions to regularly requested questions, correct details about his instances, and dispel misinformation,” the notice reads. “The intent is to share factual data relating to the unprecedented, a number of prosecutions in opposition to him.”
On the location’s FAQs web page, Mangione’s workforce asks that supporters restrict the variety of sure gadgets they ship, together with books and pictures. “Luigi is allowed to obtain pictures by way of Shutterfly and FreePrints in accordance with mail procedures whereas in custody,” the part explains.
“Because of the quantity of pictures, they might take longer than ordinary to be screened and shared. Luigi appreciates the pictures which might be despatched and kindly asks that individuals ship not more than 5 pictures at a time. Please notice that each picture that’s acquired is screened and reviewed by legislation enforcement.”
The location features a hyperlink to a GiveSendGo crowdfunding web site, which supporters have been donating to with the intention to assist pay Mangione’s authorized charges. As of Monday afternoon, the donations topped $475,000.
Final week, Mangione’s lead protection lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, instructed ABC Information, “Luigi is conscious of the fund and really a lot appreciates the outpouring of assist. My consumer plans on using it to battle all three of the unprecedented instances in opposition to him.”
Mangione has pleaded not responsible to quite a few state and federal expenses, together with first-degree homicide, terrorism, and prison possession of a weapon. His subsequent courtroom look is scheduled for February 21 in Manhattan.
