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A trio of bloodthirsty fans of accused assassin Luigi Mangione — who were granted press passes by City Hall — spouted vile hate and unapologetic calls for political violence from a Manhattan courthouse steps Monday.

Self-proclaimed “Mangionistas” Abril Rios, Ashley Rojas and Lena Weissbrot proudly showed off the passes they received from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration, apparently for their online content documenting Mangione’s upcoming trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

But the credentialed “reporters” chillingly made no bones about supporting Mangione’s alleged vendetta to strike fear into the hearts of healthcare executives such as Thompson.


  Luigi Mangione fangirls Ashley Rojas, Abril Rios and Lena Weissbrot were sporting their press passes outside court Monday. Lone Pine Press for NY Post Luigi Mangione fangirls Ashley Rojas, Abril Rios and Lena Weissbrot were sporting their press passes outside court Monday. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

  City Hall is reassessing press pass standards after outrage; Mangione’s attorney condemned fans. Steven Hirsch for NY Post City Hall is reassessing press pass standards after outrage; Mangione’s attorney condemned fans. Steven Hirsch for NY Post

“F—k Brian Thompson,” Rojas said, city-issued press pass dangling from her neck. “That’s all I want to say. F—k Brian Thompson. F—k his mom.”

Weissbrot, clad in a garish neon green, pink and purple striped ensemble, chimed in with an even more reprehensible response.

“His children are better off without him,” she said about the victim. “They need to learn to not be like their dad. And enjoy the blood money, kids.

“He’s responsible for more deaths than Osama bin Laden, and I remember Americans celebrating when Osama bin Laden was killed. It’s not like we don’t understand heroic violence, or, like, when violence is good.”

The thickheaded threesome’s glorification of murder came as they attended a key evidentiary hearing for Mangione, 28, an accused assassin who has become a twisted folk hero for those decrying the health insurance industry.

Ghoulish Mangione fans have stoked a carnival-esque atmosphere outside past court hearings, proudly displaying “Free Luigi” signs and wearing green hats like the Luigi video game character.

The Mangionistas – who collectively run an Instagram account with that name – are among the most visible and fervent Mangione superfans, churning out a grab bag of far-left posts across social media and blogs.

Weissbrot apparently received a Fulbright fellowship back in 2015 for “curating South African artists identifying as feminists who use Hip-hop music as a form of activism,” according to a Facebook post from her Florida State University alma mater.

She frequently wears a Luigi hat on her social media, which identifies her as a game developer and rapper with the suggestive stage name Fellatia G. An online wishlist under her performer handle includes requests for a bullet-proof helmet, body armor and a 3-D printer.

The brash Weissbrot appears to blog about Mangione for subscribers on her Patreon.

Rojas, who identifies online as a “writer,” runs a Substack filled with lefty views, as does Rios — a model and “Hot Girl for Zohran” whose blog melds self-proclaimed passions for writing, “finding community, resisting fascism, and speaking up against systemic injustices in America, and beyond.”

The Mangionistas seem to have spun their fawning posts about their hero into official New York City press cards thanks to the Big Apple’s recently relaxed standards for handing out the passes.

The city requires an applicant submit six or more articles, commentaries, videos, audio or other media on a breaking news event they’ve covered in person that have been broadly published in the past two years.

Rios, in a blog post last month co-bylined by the “Mangionistas,” defended getting a press pass.


  Luigi Mangione appears in court Monday, May 18. Steven Hirsch for NY Post Luigi Mangione appears in court Monday, May 18. Steven Hirsch for NY Post

  Jasmin, from East Harlem, a supporter of Luigi Mangione is seen wearing a Nintendo Luigi costume outside Manhattan Court Monday, Lone Pine Press for NY Post Jasmin, from East Harlem, a supporter of Luigi Mangione is seen wearing a Nintendo Luigi costume outside Manhattan Court Monday, Lone Pine Press for NY Post

“Just like you can get a press pass to push anti-socialist slop, I can also get one to use my voice to platform what I believe in,” she wrote.

In a post Monday on her personal Instagram account, which has more than 160,000 followers, she added: “I’m not a reporter I work in socia media which is also press thank you” along with a burning heart emoji.

Outside the courthouse, Rios chomped on chewing gum as she served up a violent interpretation of why the US supports the right to bear arms.

“I mean, why do we protect the Second Amendment so much – is it to allow people to shoot up schools, or is it to protect our democracy?” she said.

“Why can the president say we will hunt you and kill you in an official White House memo?” she said. “Why is that allowed? But when we say the president should be held accountable and I want to see him hanging in the town square by his balls, that’s wrong? I’m sorry. Two can play at that game.

“Trump, I’m coming for you, baby,” she added.

The flamboyant Weissbrot likewise called for blood of “traitors” – seemingly including the “billionaire class” and every politician who takes money from healthcare companies – to be shed.

“I can’t exactly say I’m anti-death penalty, because if this were my regime…” she said, while drawing a finger across her neck, before saying, “Brian Thompson.”

“Stop being a f—ing soy cuck and grow some f—ing balls. This has been going on too long. It should have happened decades, decades ago. This is long overdue. I have been waiting for someone like this mysterious hero to appear,” she said, coyly referring to Mangione.

Weissbrot vaguely said the Mangionistas would be present at jury selection to inform prospective jurors of their rights. She also pointed out they no longer had to camp out to make sure they could get seats for the hearing.

“Because we have our press passes now,” she said in a sing-songy voice.


  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. UnitedHealth Group

  Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo condemned the trio’s sickening statements. Steven Hirsch for NY Post Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo condemned the trio’s sickening statements. Steven Hirsch for NY Post

The Mangionistas’ baffling receipt of city-issued press passes drew outrage from Big Apple pols. 

“This is America – people have the freedom to say or write whatever awful, bats— crazy things they want,” said David Carr (R-Staten Island), the City Council’s minority leader.

“But these deranged homicide-fan girls should never be allowed access to courtrooms or official press events with the imprimatur of the City of New York. They aren’t reporters – they’re ghouls.”

City Hall spokeswoman Dora Pekec said the administration was now reconsidering how it handles doling out press passes.

“The Mamdani administration is reassessing the city’s process and standards for press credentialing,” she said in a statement.

Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo condemned the trio’s sickening statements.

“These individuals do not represent the views of Luigi, nor the tens of thousands who have shown their support from around the world,” she said. “The only people who speak for Luigi are his attorneys. We condemn these vile and irresponsible statements that have no place in the discourse around these cases.”

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