Daniel Penny is found NOT GUILTY of criminally negligent homicide in a unanimous jury verdict.
New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said, "Daniel Penny, a Marine Corps veteran who served his country honorably, did not deserve this prosecution. His only crime was getting on the NYC subway in Alvin Bragg's jurisdiction. While justice has been served with this not-guilty verdict, it is a travesty that the Manhattan District Attorney's office even pursued this case. While gangs and violent criminals bring chaos to the city Alvin Bragg chose to prosecute a veteran for doing what he refuses to do - protect the public."
Daniel Penny was found not guilty just days after the top charge of second-degree manslaughter was dropped when jurors remained deadlocked. The judge sent the jury back to deliberate on the lesser charge, and after a short time Monday morning, they came back with a not guilty verdict.
Penny had been accused of causing the death of a threatening subway passenger, Jordan Neely, by using a chokehold to subdue him. The jury for the criminal case returned a not guilty verdict, but Penny will still face a civil trial from Neely’s father.
Reaction across the board widely praised the verdict and denounced that the prosecution ever took place.
Vice-president-elect JD Vance reacted to the verdict saying, “I have not said much about this case out of fear of (negatively) influencing the jury. But thank God justice was done in this case. It was a scandal Penny was ever prosecuted in the first place.”
"New York City jurors are a lot wiser than progressive New York City district attorneys, and thank God for that. An extraordinary injustice was almost done to a Good Samaritan, thanks to the twisted -pro-criminal leanings of Manhattan D.A.,” “Alvin Bragg. Mr. Bragg has no business being in that office, and we're hopeful that city voters will agree in November. Daniel Penny is owed thanks - and an enormous apology - from the City of New York. This is not how heroes should be treated."
“The acquittal of Daniel Penny is clearly the just and correct verdict. I must admit I was skeptical that a jury in New York City would reach a unanimous not-guilty verdict, and the jury deserves credit for doing the right thing. Meanwhile, is there a worse prosecutor in America than Alvin Bragg?” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.