Full Breakdown
Mangione Supporters Granted NYC Press Passes and Celebrate CEO Murder
5/19/2026, 1:37:01 AM
Event Overview
On May 18 2026, three self-identified “independent journalists”—Ashley Rojas, Abril Rios and Lena Weissbrot—stood on the steps of a Manhattan courthouse with City Hall press badges and shouted profane praise for the Dec 4 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Press-Card System & Concerns
New York City’s press-card program moved from the NYPD to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in 2021. The rules now require six published works from separate events, and critics say the system lets extremist activists obtain official media status. The mayor’s office has said the existing criteria remain unchanged despite the controversy.
Key Actors & Credential Data
Luigi Mangione, 28, is charged with second-degree murder of Thompson and has pleaded not guilty. His supporters Rojas, Rios and Weissbrot received press credentials; freedom-of-information data show 32 “independent journalists” have been issued such credentials, about half during Mayor Adams’s term.
Timeline Highlights
Dec 4 2024 – Thompson shot outside a Midtown hotel. 2021 – Press-card authority shifted to mayor’s office. May 18 2026 – Credentialed supporters celebrate the murder. Sep 2026 – Jury selection scheduled; supporters plan public outreach on jury nullification.
Official Responses
Mangione’s defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said the supporters “do not represent the views of Luigi” and condemned their statements. The mayor’s office declined comment but stressed press passes are for legitimate news gathering.
Verbatim Quotes
- “F—k Brian Thompson.” — Ashley Rojas, independent journalist
- “He’s responsible for more deaths than Osama bin Laden, and I remember Americans celebrating when Osama bin Laden was killed.” — Lena Weissbrot
- “We’re essentially here to be Luigi Mangione’s advocate as well as bring social issues to light and also having more youth engagement,” — Ashley Rojas
- “What makes this even more disturbing is that some of the individuals making these statements hold official NYC press credentials. Press passes exist to provide legitimate journalists access to scenes, events, and restricted areas so they can inform the public, not so radical activists can masquerade as members of the media while promoting extremism and political violence.” — Mayor Eric Adams (X post)
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The mayor’s office has not released the precise count of Mangione supporters holding press credentials, and the Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment on the legality of the supporters’ planned public outreach. No official amendment to the press-card rules has been confirmed despite media reports of proposed restrictions.
What’s Next
Jury selection for Mangione’s state case is set for September 2026, and supporters have announced plans to distribute information on jury nullification outside the courthouse. Mayor Adams’s press-card reform proposal, including a “Premier Press Card” and stricter affiliation criteria, is slated for City Council review later this year.
