McGonigle v. Curran – Free Speech at Government Events

The government cannot ban people from public events just because elected officials can't handle their jokes. We’re suing the federal government for retaliating against our client by blocking her from an official, taxpayer-funded public event simply because she criticizes Vice President Vance online.

No matter who is in power, the Constitution protects our right to publicly joke, mock, insult, and dissent. Some politicians may not be able to take a joke, but the First Amendment prohibits them from silencing you just for cracking one.

Yet that is exactly what happened when armed Secret Service excluded our client, Amanda McGonigle, from a public, government-sponsored event in Bangor, Maine.

Ms. McGonigle operates social media accounts under the username "CatsOnACouch." She uses humor to build her audience and share information with her 1.9 million followers. She often criticizes Vice President Vance, shares information about the Trump administration and other breaking news, and urges followers to support causes important to her, such as mutual aid efforts supporting immigrant communities.

Her social media handle references Vice President Vance's widely publicized remark about "childless cat ladies." It is a testament to the power of speech – and the power of laughter – that the administration is attempting to silence a cat-related social media account.

In early May 2026, Ms. McGonigle registered to attend a government event in Bangor that was advertised as an official event and open for registration by members of the public. The vice president was scheduled to speak to the audience.

Ms. McGonigle received official confirmation of her registration and traveled to Bangor to attend the event, where she planned to express herself as a dissenting audience member and to wear a t-shirt stating that “JD Vance cured my imposter syndrome.”

When Ms. McGonigle arrived, armed Secret Service agents and other government officials singled her out by name and refused her entry. They explicitly cited her viewpoints and criticism of the administration as the reason for excluding her, stating, "we know where you stand."

The First Amendment prohibits government officials from retaliating against people for exercising their right to free speech. The government can’t exclude Ms. McGonigle from an official government event because she criticized the vice president or his policies. This administration has detained and sought to deport protesters, curtailed press freedoms, retaliated against people for criticizing those in power, and used federal agencies like the FCC to intimidate comedians. Excluding Ms. McGonigle from a public event is the latest example in this disturbing pattern of trying to suppress dissent.

That’s why we’re suing on Ms. McGonigle’s behalf. The First Amendment protects every person’s freedom of speech, even if that speech is critical, unpopular, or cat-themed jokes about a vice president.