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While GoFundMe has shut down all legal defense fundraisers for the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione, another fundraiser on a different fundraising site, GiveSendGo, has reached over $132,000.
“GoFundMe’s Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes. The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded,” a spokesperson told Gizmodo.
On the other hand, GiveSendGo, which touts itself as a Christian-based website, has allowed a legal defense fundraiser for Luigi Mangione to survive and thrive.
“The most valuable currency is God’s love,” GiveSendGo says on its About page. “Only God can meet the deepest needs of each heart. That’s why we’re grateful to have individuals and organizations dedicated to praying over our campaigns. We pray for eternal results because those are ultimately the only outcomes that matter. The God we serve will ALWAYS be bigger than money.”
They add, “Whether you’re a Giver, Sender or Goer, you can be used by God to be a difference maker!”
The fundraiser for alleged cold-blooded killer Luigi Mangione reads, “This is a preemptive legal fundraiser for the suspect allegedly involved in the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO. We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation.”
There are also six “updates” on the fundraiser page adding things like “The 26-year-old, born and raised in Maryland, was picked up while eating at a McDonalds in Pennsylvania,” and “We’ve gotten a mailing address for Luigi in jail! We’re writing directly to him to see what he would like us to do with these funds.”
They even posted a letter they wrote to Magione.
Dear Luigi Mangione,
You are going through a lot right now, but we wanted to let you know that we set up a legal defense fund for you and we have received over $30,000 and counting to put towards your defense or, if you do not want the funds, toward the defense of other political prisoners and defendants facing politicized charges. Along with the donations have come hundreds of messages of support for you. We are reaching out to your legal defense as well in case this letter doesn’t reach you. If you or your lawyer want to call us, we can be reached at – -xxxx. You can also reach us by email at xxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com.
In the hopes that this may help you get strong legal representation as you face these charges,
The December 4th Legal Committee
Interestingly, if Luigi Mangione decides he doesn’t want their money, the fundraisers’ state “they will instead be donated to legal funds for other U.S political prisoners and defendants facing politicized charges.”
