Summary
Luigi Mangione, charged with the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, released his first public statement through a new website launched by his defense team.
He expressed gratitude for widespread support and acknowledged the letters he has received. The website provides case updates and a fundraiser, which has raised over $400,000.
Mangione has gained a following among those frustrated with the U.S. healthcare system. A poll found 41% of voters under 30 viewed the assassination as acceptable.
His next court date is Feb. 21.
I agree somewhat, that ‘an eye for an eye’ is just awful. Violence begets violence. However, as the CEO was single-handedly responsible for the deaths of a whole bunch of people, the only way to stop him from doing more harm was to rid the world of him. There’s a line, and he crossed it. Society, and our justice system, would never have a trial for him, and would never sentence him for his crimes. Luigi was the one to force him to face judgement for his crimes against humanity, and as such I fully believe he should be set free as a result.
It’s kinda like Trump and Elon in my eyes. These two have done immeasurable harm and our justice system will never hold them accountable. To allow them to live is to allow them to continue perpetuating their crimes. Now, I’m not saying by any means that I would be the one to ‘do the deed’ as it were, but I sure as hell would look the other way if someone else did.
You make a thoughtful argument. If you haven’t already, I suggest reading up on jury nullification to add even more depth to the situation.
Murder is wrong, but it doesn’t have to be an endless cycle of violence if the jury agrees that the situation leading up to it was unjust to begin with.
And that is maybe an ideal outcome. Sometimes the right and necessary thing isn’t the legal thing. If you make that decision on your own, better hope to fuck most people agree. And, if they do, that’s the point of the fucking jury. You done good.
Yeah. I get it. I agree. My comment above is better than approve/disapprove but my feelings probably could extend to a manifesto level. Particularly given the low bar Mangione set for length. It’s certainly the case that the system is designed to make some people above the law. And when those people do bad things, your only recourse is to change the system (which could take decades and resources you simply don’t have) or go outside the system.
I guess I’m saying, I think Mangione has to pay a price for what he did—certainly not his life based on similar crimes, but I think it was a based decision.