Red flags raised for online fundraising in United Healthcare CEO shooter’s defense 

A shadowy group following the Marxist custom of naming itself after a day of violence is raising money for the alleged shooter of United Healthcare’s CEO. 

“This is a preemptive legal fundraiser for the suspect allegedly involved in the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO,” said the December 4th Legal Committee fundraising page at GiveSendGo. “We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation.” 

While the group claims not to celebrate violence, it is named after the day a lone gunman, who police allege was Luigi Mangione – shot and killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel.  

The killing was the most sensational assassination in New York City since the murder of mafia boss Paul Castellano outside Sparks Steak House by a hit team sent by capo John Gotti in 1985. 

Mangione, 29, was arrested on Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania after police were notified that a person resembling the photographs of the shooter was at the restaurant.  

So far, the “Dec. 4th” group has raised over $50,000, which it says will go directly to Mangione’s legal defense, although the group said it hasn’t yet established contact with him.  

Nearly 1,700 people have donated to the fund so far. The fundraiser goal is set at $200,000. 

“All proceeds will be sent directly to Luigi or, if he chooses to reject the funds, they will instead be donated to legal funds for other U.S political prisoners,” said the group.  

The identity of the group is murky. 

Representatives of the group contacted USA Today, saying it is “composed of veteran legal-aid volunteers with decades of experience in prison and court support.” 

But otherwise, a search by The Lion revealed no legal entity with the name December 4th Legal Committee, although it does have a social media account with 77 followers and a bizarre assortment of 21 accounts they are following.  

GiveSendGo, an avowedly Christian organization, made news for being the defense fundraising portal for Daniel Penny, who was recently found not guilty in the death of Jordan Neely.  

“GiveSendGo stands as one of the few crowdfunding platforms that allows legal defense campaigns,” GiveSendGo said after the Penny verdict. “Other platforms have recently updated their terms of service to prohibit fundraising for alleged violent crimes, leading to the removal of campaigns for individuals like Kyle Rittenhouse and Jose Alba.”  

But the company also noted it does not monitor where the funds go after they are dispersed. 

“As we remind every giver, it is your responsibility to understand to whom and what you are giving,” Heather Wilson, a GiveSendGo founder, told USA Today.  

Mangione’s attorney told CNN his client “probably wouldn’t” accept the offer of money for his defense. 

Mangione comes from a well-known wealthy family in Maryland, which owns two country clubs, a radio station and has real estate holdings, according to the New York Post.  

Still, a criminal defense is costly, Rainey Reitman, board president for Freedom of the Press Foundation, told USA Today. Reitman believes there is a place for online criminal defense fundraising, even for causes that are unpopular.  

Leftist groups have been pushing for the regulation of online fundraising because it’s been prominent in the defense of conservatives, such as Daniel Penny, Kyle Rittenhouse and Jan. 6 defendants. 

GoFundMe and Etsy yanked fundraisers for Mangione already. GoFundMe said its policy is not to allow fundraisers for to defend those accused of violent crimes, according to Fox Business. 

Reitman cautioned that donors should use common sense even if they agree with the cause they think they are funding. 

“It is the case that in some instances, people who are trying to take advantage of the situation might attempt to set up a fundraiser and have no intention of giving that money to the defense,” Reitman said. “So I think that’s a real concern, and people should have some skepticism about where they’re sending their money to.”