The New York City Council is considering a bill that would streamline the process for revoking official press credentials from individuals who abuse them or use them for non-journalistic purposes. The proposed legislation comes in response to public displays by supporters of Luigi Mangione, who were seen using city-issued press passes outside his trial.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the bill, sponsored by Councilmember Banks, stating it will "make reforms to press credentials to solve the problem of the Luigi Mangione fangirl, if you will." Menin added that these individuals, who are not journalists, were presenting press credentials issued by the City of New York. A trio of Mangione supporters drew public attention in May when they displayed their city-issued press passes to reporters outside the courthouse on a day of one of his hearings.
One supporter, identified as Ashley Rojas, made controversial remarks to the New York Post, including expletives directed at the victim, Brian Thompson, and his mother. Another supporter, Lena Weissbrot, reportedly justified the assassination by comparing Thompson's alleged responsibility for deaths to that of Osama bin Laden. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that these individuals should not have received press passes.
The bill, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Chris Banks, Carmen De La Rosa, and Inna Vernikov, would grant the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) the authority to suspend or revoke a press pass if a "preponderance of the evidence" supports such action. This would lower the evidentiary standard from the current requirement of "clear and convincing evidence."
"We want them to reform their practices so it's really journalists, legitimate journalists, who should be getting the press credentials," Menin said in an interview with FOX 5 New York. Menin previously served as MOME's commissioner.
Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to federal charges earlier this year. His legal team is currently seeking to have state-level charges dismissed on double jeopardy grounds. Mangione was accused of killing Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, in Manhattan in December 2024. Surveillance footage showed Mangione approaching Thompson from behind and firing a silenced handgun before fleeing on a bicycle. He was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after being recognized by customers and employees at a McDonald's from a wanted poster.