The New York City Council is debating a bill aimed at making it easier to revoke press passes from individuals who misuse them or employ them for purposes outside of journalism.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin explained on FOX 5 New York that they introduced a bill, backed by Councilmember Banks, to address issues exemplified by “the Luigi Mangione fangirl.” Apparently, some non-journalists have been appearing at trials with press credentials issued by the city.
In May, a group of supporters for Mangione garnered attention when they showcased their press passes to the New York Post outside a courthouse during one of the suspect’s court hearings.
At the heart of the controversy, some individuals, like Ashley Rojas, openly expressed hostility towards the assassination victim, Brian Thompson, dismissing him vehemently in an interview. Another supporter, Lena Weissbrot, went further, making a shocking comparison between Thompson and notorious figures like Osama bin Laden, blaming him for numerous deaths.
New York City’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, later remarked that the three individuals should not have been granted press credentials, prompting the City Council to consider how to more effectively revoke such passes.
The proposed bill, co-sponsored by several council members, suggests empowering the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) to suspend or revoke press passes if there’s enough evidence to support such actions. This change would lower the threshold from what is currently required— a “clear and convincing” standard— to merely a “preponderance of the evidence.”
Council Speaker Menin emphasized the intention is to reform practices to ensure that only legitimate journalists receive press credentials. Mangione has already pleaded guilty to federal charges, and his legal team is now attempting to dismiss state-level charges, raising double jeopardy concerns.
In December 2024, Mangione shot Thompson, a 50-year-old father, in a shocking incident captured on surveillance. Authorities caught him later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania after he was recognized from a wanted image.
