New York City Mayor Says Supporters of Accused Killer Should Not Have Received Press Passes

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said three supporters of Luigi Mangione should not have received press passes to attend a Monday court hearing. Mamdani made the comments at a Tuesday press conference. He said the individuals, who call themselves "The Mangionistas," do not qualify under standards for legitimate press access.

The mayor said his administration will review the credentialing process. The approval of press passes now falls under the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment after a 2022 transfer from the New York Police Department. Mamdani noted that the nature of news reporting has changed and said the city must adapt its standards accordingly.

Weissbrot, one of the three, writes for The Bicoastal Beat. " Ashley Rojas, another member of the group, told reporters she did not care that the victim had died. The third member, Abril Rios, has posted about the case on social media.

Mayor Eric Adams said his administration had been rewriting rules for press credentials before leaving office in January. Adams called the supporters' comments reprehensible and said press passes should not be used by activists promoting political violence. Republican City Councilman David Carr said the three should not have been granted access to court proceedings.

Mangione's lawyers on Tuesday argued that evidence found in a backpack during his arrest should be suppressed. The defense said law enforcement searched the backpack without a warrant after arresting Mangione at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania.