Controversy Over Press Passes to Fans of Alleged Murderer
A recent decision by City Hall officials to issue press passes to three female supporters of the alleged murderer Luigi Mangione has sparked significant backlash. The exact process that allowed these self-styled “Mansionistas” to receive credentials remains unclear, but many critics point to changes implemented during former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tenure, which made it easier to obtain press credentials.
City Council Minority Leader David Carr voiced strong disapproval, stating, “This is America. People have the freedom to say and write as badly as they want, but these murder fan girls should not have access to courtrooms or official press conferences in New York City.” He added, “They’re not reporters, they’re ghouls.”
Historically, press credentials in New York City have been issued by the NYPD, which facilitated journalists attending various government events and bypassing police restrictions. However, a shift occurred after several journalists were arrested during protests in 2020, leading to a change in oversight. Following this, de Blasio supported a 2021 initiative that transferred the authority for issuing press passes to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).
In this new arrangement, pass applicants were required to submit at least six media pieces published or broadcasted within the last two years, including firsthand coverage of significant events, especially those where the city enforced restrictions. It seems that the posts by Mansionistas Avril Rios, Ashley Rojas, and Lena Weisbrot about attending the court hearing for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson inadvertently qualified them for the recently issued passes.
The backlash against granting them press passes has been intense. One social media user remarked, “The only difference between Luigi Mangione supporters and Charlie Manson supporters is that Manson supporters are not issued press passes by New York City.”
City Council President Julie Menin called for substantial reforms in the media credentialing process, emphasizing the importance of proper vetting. “Media entitlements exist for a reason,” she noted, expressing concerns over the potential implications on journalism and public safety.
Keith Powers, who initially proposed changes to eligibility, also criticized the issuance of passes to these fans, saying, “It’s an honor to have a New York City press pass. Anyone who promotes or condones violence clearly does not deserve a pass.” Meanwhile, at least two other superfans of Mangione are reported to have secured press credentials. Some of Mangione’s supporters were also observed at the court hearing of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, indicating they might pursue press credentials as well.
In a striking contrast, many veteran journalists from major news organizations have faced unexplained rejections for press passes. MOME had initially denied a press pass to a chief City Hall correspondent in 2025, which stirred controversy during Eric Adams’s administration. Adams later revealed he had interceded on social media, prompting reflection on the rules governing press access.
Adams, whose relationship with the media has been strained, criticized the decision to issue press passes to individuals he deemed extremists. He shared on social media that Mamdani’s administration had abandoned the reform plan to revisit media credentialing.
City Hall spokeswoman Dora Pekek indicated that the administration is reassessing the media certification process and its associated standards.
