Abril Rios, a part-time communications and constituent-services aide to Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros, has supported Luigi Mangione at hearings using an NYC press credential. A proposed bill could allow credentials to be revoked after an administrative hearing.
Rios said she first obtained the credential while organizing for Hot Girls for Zohran, because it gave her more access to interview people. She has sat in reporter-designated rows at Mangione hearings. Critics have questioned whether Rios and other supporters are journalists; Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said they should not hold credentials. They have also faced criticism for advocating jury nullification. Mangione pleaded guilty this summer to stalking and killing former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was killed in December 2024.
The proposed NYC Council bill would allow credentials to be revoked after an administrative hearing and direct the mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to review its rules for issuing, suspending and revoking them. Rios called the measure viewpoint discrimination and said she was concerned. Ephros said her coverage of one New York case does not conflict with her Jersey City work; he declined to say whether he agreed with her views on Mangione.
