Government Recognizes CatsOnACouch Creator’s Right to Attend Public Events

PORTLAND, Maine — In a win for the First Amendment, government officials declared that Amanda McGonigle, creator of the social media accounts @CatsOnACouch, will be permitted to attend official vice-presidential events for which she registers, subject to the same rules applicable to all attendees.

A senior official in the Office of the Vice President also committed in court documents to respect all registrants’ First Amendment rights, stating “[a]ttendees will not be prevented from attending official events based on protected expression or speech." Ms. McGonigle therefore asked the court today to dismiss her lawsuit challenging her exclusion from an official government event based on her social media content criticizing the vice president.

“No matter how many times I call Vice President Vance a soggy saltine on social media, I have the right to attend official vice-presidential events that I've registered for, just like any other member of the public,” said Amanda McGonigle. “Dissent is patriotic, and so is showing up to official vice-presidential events wearing a t-shirt stating, ‘jd vance cured my imposter syndrome.’ Our voice is our power, and I hope people will continue to use it knowing that when it comes to events like these and holding the administration accountable, the First Amendment is on our side.”

In May of this year, McGonigle registered to attend an official vice-presidential event in Bangor, Maine, but was prevented from entering the event. While in line for that event, armed Secret Service agents and other government officials called her out by name and told her she wasn’t allowed in, stating “we know where you stand.” She was previously denied confirmation details to attend another official event in Des Moines, Iowa.

McGonigle filed suit earlier this summer to challenge the government’s retaliation and viewpoint-based discrimination against her. McGonigle claimed that she was excluded from the 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 First Amendment has always required that Amanda be treated like anyone else at public, vice-presidential events, no matter how much the government dislikes her speech,” said Anahita Sotoohi, staff attorney at the ACLU of Maine. “The government has now affirmatively recognized that constitutional requirement, by stating in a court filing that it will not bar Amanda, or any other member of the public, from public events just because it doesn’t like what they have to say. We are glad that Amanda can now attend official vice-presidential events like any other member of the public. Her challenge has put the government on record committing to respect all people’s First Amendment rights at official events.”

In August, government officials allowed Ms. McGonigle to attend an official speaking engagement hosted by Vice President Vance in Brewer, Maine, after the ACLU of Maine and ACLU requested a preliminary injunction to allow her to attend future official vice-presidential events. The government agreed she could attend the event in Brewer, just like any other member of the public who registered. Ms. McGonigle entered the event without interference, wearing a t-shirt stating, “jd vance cured my imposter syndrome.”

“The First Amendment doesn’t allow the government to bar people from attending official 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 public vice-presidential events that she registers for just like everyone else.”

You can read today’s filing here, and more about the case here.