CNN’s Kaitlan Collins boosts Luigi Mangione’s legal defense fund—deletes post after backlash

Kaitlan Collins, the White House correspondent for CNN as well as anchor for the outlet, promoted the legal defense fund for Mangione, who has been accused of assassinating Thompson. Collins posted a link to the fund on X, writing, "Luigi Mangione's legal defense team has launched a new website today."

The post was deleted shortly after backlash ensued in reaction to her boosting the legal fund.

The defense fund had posted a "Valentine's Day Message" on the new website from Mangione, who said, "I am overwhelmed by - and grateful for - everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe.

"While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future," the message from Mangione added. It was his first public statement since the killing in November.

Collins later posted on X, saying "This is not true. I posted that his attorneys created a website, which is newsworthy and other outlets have also reported on. In no way did I share a fundraising link for him."

However, the link she had posted does prominently feature a GiveSendGo for Mangione.

Mangione has been charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, the deceased UnitedHealthcare CEO. On November 24, Thompson was walking out of a hotel in New York City at around 6:45 am. A man, later identified as Mangione, emerged from behind some parked cars and shot Thompson in the leg and back.

Bullet casings left at the scene said on them, "deny," delay," and "depose," words commonly associated with strategies health insurance companies use to not pay for claims. Mangione was later arrested for the killing. According to reports earlier this week, his defense fund has inched close to $500,000.

In light of the killing in November, many left-wing activists in the United States lauded Mangione as a hero online. Left-wing reporter Taylor Lorenz told Piers Morgan that she did not feel empathy for Thompson’s death because, she claimed, he was a "man responsible for deaths.”

One socialist activist constructed a card game called "Most wanted CEO" in response to the killing as support was given to the alleged assassin.

The alleged assassin was found and arrested in Pennsylvania and possessed a manifesto railing against the healthcare industry. The manifesto as well as other details led some to believe that his motivation for the alleged murder was connected to a surgery he had on his back.