CNN's Kaitlan Collins deletes controversial post mentioning Luigi Mangione's defense fund

Bad decisions and non-existent ethical standards seem to have become standard practice at CNN in recent years, but few would have predicted the latest outrage committed by one of the network's best-known personalities.

CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins made the inexplicable decision last week to post what appeared to be an endorsement of a defense fund established for the benefit of accused killer Luigi Mangione, which she subsequently deleted, as the New York Post reports.

Collins takes to X

In a message that quickly provoked a firestorm online, Collins displayed a link to a website created by lawyers representing Mangione, who currently stands accused of the December murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of New York.

Thompson was gunned down in cold blood, spurring a multi-state manhunt that eventually led to the arrest of Mangione.

Now facing a host of charges, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, stalking, and a series of other state and federal counts, Mangione has, oddly garnered legions of fans who believe he was justified in carrying out an act of vengeance against the insurance industry they revile.

Mangione's online fandom only seemed to grow in the weeks following his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's, and his legal defense fund grew to more than $300,000, despite the fact that the hails from a wealthy family.

The unmistakably thorny ethical issues posed by Mangione's overnight celebrity made Collins' inclusion of the aforementioned website address all the more controversial.

Backlash begins

CNN representatives told Fox News Digital that the kerfuffle around Collins' post was without merit, stating that it was simply part and parcel of “reporting news surrounding the trial,” the backlash against the network personality's action was swift and sure.

Stephen L. Miller of the Spectator weighed in, musing, “Real bottom of the barrel stuff. Even for @kaitlancollins.”

Radio host Larry O'Connor accused Collins of using her “considerable platform to promote a link for the defense fund of a cold-blooded killer.”

The X account @AceofSpadesHQ offered a play on the cable news network's own advertising catchphrase, writing “This is @CNN -- pimping the GoFundMe for a leftwing assassin.”

Though Collins continued to defend her post by saying, “I posted that his attorneys created a website...I no way did I share a fundraising link for him,” the fact that she deleted the mention that started it all is to many a tacit admission of culpability in and of itself.