Two large anonymous donations have boosted the legal defense fund for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as his case moves toward a potential federal death penalty trial.

Why It Matters

Mangione faces federal charges and state charges in New York and Pennsylvania, including murder with a firearm, forgery, and identity falsification after Thompson was shot outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The mounting donations highlight growing unease among Mangione’s supporters over the case’s perceived political overtones. His defense team, led by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, described the Department of Justice‘s decision to pursue the death penalty as “state-sponsored murder” in an April 1 statement, accusing the government of making Mangione “a trophy in a high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors.”

What To Know

Mangione’s GiveSendGo fundraiser recently received a $23,000 anonymous donation accompanied by the comment, “The killing of any Defendant for political exploitation is disgusting.” Another anonymous donor gave $20,000 with no comment.

The legal fund, organized by The December 4th Legal Committee, now stands at over $905,000—less than $100,000 shy of its $1 million goal, according to the campaign’s GiveSendGo page.

Newsweek reached out to Mangione’s legal team for comment.

The donations followed an announcement by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Mangione.

“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson—an innocent man and father of two young children—was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” Bondi said in a statement. “After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”

Donations to Mangione’s legal defense fund surged in response to the death penalty announcement. Organizers say funds will be used to cover legal costs across the three ongoing criminal proceedings if Mangione and his legal team accept the money.

What People Are Saying

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, one Mangione’s lawyers, in a statement: “While claiming to protect against murder, the federal government moves to commit the pre-meditated, state-sponsored murder of Luigi. By doing this, they are defending the broken, immoral, and murderous healthcare industry that continues to terrorize the American people.

“We are prepared to fight these federal charges, brought by a lawless Justice Department, as well as the New York State charges, and the Pennsylvania charges, and anything else they want to pile on Luigi. This is a corrupt web of government dysfunction and one-upmanship. Luigi is caught in a high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors, except the trophy is a young man’s life.”

Bondi, in a Fox News interview on April 6: “If there was ever a death case, this is one. This guy is charged with hunting down a CEO, a father of two, a married man. Hunting him down and executing him.”

Then President-elect Donald Trump, at a news conference in December: “It was cold-blooded. Just a cold-blooded, horrible killing. And how people can like this guy is— that’s a sickness, actually.”

UnitedHealth Group, in a December statement: “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place. So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out. We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

What Happens Next

Mangione is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn without bond. His next federal court appearance is scheduled for Friday, with a New York state hearing set for June 26.

Have you donated to Luigi Mangione’s defense fundraiser? Newsweek would love to speak with you! Please email [email protected]