NYC Council seeks easier revocation of press passes after Mangione fan controversy
Council leaders Julie Menin and Chris Banks will propose a bill to lower the evidentiary bar for revoking New York City press credentials following a incident where Luigi Mangione supporters used passes to harass a court hearing.
Council Speaker Julie Menin and Deputy Leader Chris Banks plan to introduce legislation Thursday that would alter New York City’s press-credential system. The bill would replace the current “clear and convincing” evidentiary threshold for revoking passes with a lower “preponderance” standard, and would require the Mayor’s Office of Entertainment and Media to reassess its issuance, suspension and revocation policies. The effort comes after a May episode in which three self-identified “Mangionistas”—Lena Weissbrot, Abril Rios and Ashley Rojas—used city-issued press passes to shout hateful, violent remarks outside a Manhattan criminal court hearing concerning the alleged shooter of Luigi Mangione.
The council argued that while press freedom is vital, the credentialing process must also protect public safety and maintain journalistic integrity. The amendment will be debated in council committees and could be modified as stakeholders provide input. If passed, the new rules would give officials a simpler mechanism to strip passes from individuals deemed to be misusing them.
Why it matters
It aims to prevent misuse of press passes that can threaten safety and undermine journalistic credibility.
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