A author who corresponded extensively with suspected CEO shooter Luigi Mangione described him as “one of many nicest individuals,” regardless of the cold-blooded execution-style homicide he’s accused of committing final week.
Gurwinder Bhogal, a Substack author based mostly within the UK, had a two-hour lengthy video name and exchanged twenty emails with pc programmer Mangione, 26, this spring, earlier than he mysteriously went off grid for six months.
Bhogal mentioned the person now accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson had blended political beliefs.
“He was left-wing on some issues and right-wing on others,” Bhogal mentioned. He remembers Mangione mentioning he was a champion of equality however against DEI, wokeness, and identification politics.
“He opposed wokeism as a result of he didn’t consider it was an efficient means to assist minorities,” Bhogal defined. “He expressed curiosity in additional rational, evidence-based types of compassion, like efficient altruism.”
“General, the impression I bought of him, moreover his curiosity and kindness, was a deep concern for the way forward for humanity, and a dedication to enhance himself and the world,” Bhogal mentioned in an electronic mail to The Submit.
That impression lies in stark distinction to the portrait which has emerged since Mangione’s seize Monday of a younger man who veered away from his Ivy League training and a promising future into the darkness after sustaining severe again issues which left him unable to have intercourse, in line with a pal.
The accused killer first reached out to Bhogal in April by way of electronic mail to say he’s a fan of his Substack, “The Prism,” which focuses on centrist social commentary and cultural criticism.
After exchanging emails, the pair mentioned politics over a video chat in Might.
Mangione particularly needed to debate two of Bhogal’s Substack articles throughout the name. One piece, entitled “Why Every thing is Turning into a Recreation,” is about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski’s life.
“Luigi disapproved of the Unabomber’s actions, however was fascinated by his ideology, and shared his issues about rampant consumerism progressively eroding our company and alienating us from ourselves,” Bhogal mentioned.
Mangione additionally expressed his views on Kaczynski — who killed three and injured 23 extra between 1978 and 1995 — on-line, liking certainly one of is quotes and writing a overview of his manifesto.
The opposite article, “Why You Are Most likely an NPC“, which stands for Non Participant Character, briefly discusses healthcare.
“On healthcare I’m a socialist,” Bhogal writes. “I consider everybody ought to be entitled to free medically mandatory therapy no matter background.”
Bhogal doesn’t recall whether or not Mangione talked about any medical points on the decision, although he did complain about how costly the American healthcare system was and “expressed envy on the UK’s nationalized well being system.”
Mangione additionally expressed issues about smartphone habit throughout their dialog. He was a premium subscriber to Bhogal’s Substack, opting to pay $200 a yr as an alternative of the everyday $60.
Bhogal described Mangione as “genuinely one of many nicest individuals I’ve ever met” in a X submit about their interactions.
He says his response to information Monday that Mangione was arrested was certainly one of “bewilderment.”
“He was so considerate and well mannered that he appeared just like the final individual I’d suspect of murdering somebody,” he added.
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