Shortly After Filing, Government Upholds @CatsOnACouch Creator’s Right to Attend Vance Event Today in Brewer

BREWER, Maine — In a victory for free speech, Amanda McGonigle, creator of the social media accounts @CatsOnACouch, was allowed to attend Vice President Vance’s official speaking engagement in Brewer today. McGonigle entered without interference after the ACLU of Maine filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to allow her to attend future official vice-presidential events. The government agreed she could attend today's event, just like any other member of the public who registered. Given this agreement, the court denied the motion for a preliminary injunction, and McGonigle successfully attended.

“I was just allowed entrance into Vice President Vance’s event after I sued the government for preventing me from entering the last public event he did in Maine," said Amanda McGonigle. “The government can’t exclude me from official vice-presidential events otherwise open to the public just because I mock people in positions of power on the internet. I have as much right to attend these events as people who haven't called out the vice president for having the charisma of a soggy unsalted rice cake online.”

The filing comes after McGonigle registered to attend a vice-presidential event in Bangor in May and complied with all advance guest guidance provided by the Executive Office of the President. While in line for the event, armed Secret Service agents and other government officials identified her and told her she wasn’t allowed in because “we know where you stand.” She was also denied guest details to attend an event that was open for registration by the public in Des Moines, Iowa.

“The First Amendment protects Amanda’s right to attend public vice-presidential events just like anyone else, no matter how many cat jokes she makes at the vice president’s expense,” said Anahita Sotoohi, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. “It’s unfortunate that Amanda had to file a lawsuit to vindicate this right, but we are glad to see the federal government finally acknowledge and respect her right to attend the Brewer event. Amanda should also be able to attend similar events in the future. No matter who is in power, the Constitution protects every person’s right to publicly joke, mock, insult, and dissent.”

McGonigle filed suit earlier this summer to challenge the government’s retaliation and viewpoint-based discrimination against her after she was excluded from official events in Bangor and Des Moines because of commentary she posts on her social media accounts, which are dedicated to criticizing the vice president. She launched her @CatsOnACouch accounts after Vice President Vance’s infamous “childless cat lady” comment in 2024, and she says the purpose of the account is “to have more followers than JD Vance by the time he leaves office and to troll him mercilessly every single day.”

“The government cannot prohibit people from attending vice-presidential events on the basis of their protected speech,” said Laura Moraff, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. “We’re glad the federal government recognized that Amanda has the right to attend today's Brewer event just like everyone else who registered, and we hope the government continues to stand down and not interfere with our client’s right to criticize and joke.”

The ACLU of Maine and ACLU filed the suit on behalf of McGonigle in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine in early July. The complaint alleges that McGonigle’s First Amendment rights were violated when she was excluded from vice presidential events because of her speech and political views.

You can read the court’s order here, and see more about the case and other legal filings here.