Daniel Penny makes astounding statement about his actions on subway after jury acquittal



Marine veteran Daniel Penny said that he could not have lived with himself if he had avoided taking action on the subway after Jordan Neely threatened passengers.

Penny made the comments on Fox News after he was acquitted in the controversial case from New York City. Some black activists have accused him of racism, but others have praised him for stepping in when Neely, a homeless schizophrenic man, screamed that he wanted to kill people.

'I’ll take a million court appearances just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed.'

Penny addressed the attention he has received and then added that he would have done it again to protect people.

"I'm not a confrontational person; I don't really extend myself. This type of thing is really uncomfortable. All of this attention in my mind is very uncomfortable. And I would prefer without it, I didn't want any type of attention or praise. And I still don't," he said.

“The guilt I would have felt if someone did get hurt, if he did do what he was threatening to do, I would never be able to live with myself," Penny added. "I’ll take a million court appearances just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed.”

Penny had been charged with manslaughter as well as criminally negligent homicide, but a jury said its members were deadlocked on the first charge and then issued a verdict of not guilty on the second charge.

Neely had also taken synthetic marijuana before threatening to kill people on the subway.

Here's a video of Penny's comments:

Daniel Penny: “The guilt I would have felt if someone did get hurt, if he did do what he was threatening to do, I would never be able to live with myself. I’ll take a million court appearances just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or kiIIed.” pic.twitter.com/nqY0f2QJAZ
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) December 10, 2024

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Daniel Penny is the right’s George Floyd



Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine Corps veteran, was found not guilty Monday of criminally negligent homicide by a jury in the 2023 death of Jordan Neely. While millions of people were invested in the outcome of Penny’s trial, the primary driver of public interest was only partially about the jury’s eventual verdict.

Verdicts in the court of law are influenced by facts, evidence, and legal arguments. Unlike legal proceedings, however, the court of public opinion is driven by narratives that often elevate people from individuals to political symbols who represent something far more important in the cultural zeitgeist. I reached a verdict I didn’t expect after reading the conservative commentary surrounding this case.

It is possible to act nobly and bravely and still be held liable by the legal system.

Daniel Penny is the conservative right’s George Floyd.

This comparison is not about personal biography. The two men couldn’t be farther apart in that regard. They do, however, share a great deal as symbols of injustice and racial persecution to their most passionate defenders.

To the left, Floyd was the living embodiment of the historical oppression black men have faced in America at the hands of racist police. They saw his death as a modern-day lynching, a dynamic that cast Officer Derek Chauvin as the callous, indifferent hangman.

Progressives weren’t interested in any discussion about the impact of drugs on Floyd’s health or how his behavior influenced the response from law enforcement. George Floyd represented everything they believed about the racism baked into the criminal justice system. To them, his life and death embodied the struggles of an oppressed minority.

Daniel Penny has been hailed as a hero by conservatives for stepping in to keep Jordan Neely from harming passengers on their train. To them, Penny is the embodiment of the currentpersecution of white males in American society. While commentary about anti-white bias is typically confined to stories about human resources managers rejecting white applicants and racial preference schemes at selective universities, many of Penny’s supporters see him as a victim of the systemic racism being practiced today by overzealous progressive prosecutors. To them, his arrest and prosecution by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg embodied the plight of an oppressed majority.

While it is tempting to view both men through color-coded lenses, the narratives constructed around them have been built with the tools of politics and race — in that order. Blue and black on one side. Red and white on the other. Politics lights the fire. Race fans the flames.

The tribal nature of American society also makes both sides resistant to anything that challenges the preferred narrative. The idea that there could never be a “white George Floyd” was blown up once people learned about the death of Tony Timpa.

Likewise, the people quickest to invoke race as the driving force in Penny’s arrest likely don’t know self-defense claims didn’t keep Jordan Williams — a black man — from being arrested and charged with manslaughter after the fatal stabbing of Devictor Ouedraogo on a New York City subway train in June 2023. Williams had charges against him dropped after witnesses claimed Ouedraogo physically assaulted passengers, including Williams' girlfriend.

No one should be surprised by either side’s blind spots. Politics and race influence not only media attention but also the intensity of reaction to stories.

Some progressives tried to paint Penny as a white supremacist vigilante even though no evidence suggested racial animus motivated his actions. But the narrative that emerged on the right that Penny was only charged because of systemic racism against white men is evidence that conservatives are just as susceptible to confirmation bias as their liberal counterparts.

Addressing the depths of the human condition is never easy, especially in a city of over 8 million people. New York City subways serve as informal homeless camps and mental health facilities for far too many people. Many of the trains reek of human waste. I’m sure many New Yorkers of every color appreciate men like Daniel Penny willing to defend other people from danger.

That doesn’t change the fact that part of the government’s job is to determine the circumstances under which one person can take the life of another. Murder is a different charge with different penalties from homicide. Self-defense protects people who take a life because their own is in danger. The notion that you can choke a loud, belligerent person — even one who’s mentally ill — from behind and not face any legal consequence is influenced far more by politics than a careful reading of the law.

I don’t view Daniel Penny as a hero. Neither do I see him as a villain. I look at Penny as a man who believed he was acting with good intentions in trying to defend a train full of people from a mentally ill man. But it is possible to act nobly and bravely and still be held liable by the legal system.

The left blames “anti-black racism” when black men die at the hands of a white person. The right blames “anti-white racism” when white men face trial during fatal interracial encounters. Both sides resist anything that challenges their narratives because being an aggrieved victim today comes with social, cultural, and political benefits.

The biggest loser in this cultural tug-of-war is the American people. Police misconduct, political prosecutions, homelessness, and mental illness are all serious matters that deserve rational, objective policy responses. Unfortunately, political tribalism continues to make it difficult to address any of these problems on a bipartisan basis.

BLM and mob threats couldn’t overturn the truth in the Daniel Penny case



The acquittal of Daniel Penny on Monday in the subway death of Jordan Neely highlights that justice, grounded in facts and fairness, can withstand media distortion and mob outrage. This case was not merely about one man’s actions but about affirming the right to self-defense and preserving the integrity of the justice system.

Penny, a former Marine, intervened to protect subway passengers when Neely, described by witnesses as erratic and threatening, caused fear among those present. Penny’s intent was to de-escalate the situation, though tragically, Neely died. Rather than focusing on the evidence, activists and the media rushed to demonize Penny, casting him as an aggressor without supporting facts. However, the jury adhered to the facts. Witnesses testified that Neely’s behavior posed a threat and Penny’s actions were those of a responsible citizen seeking to protect others.

The verdict delivers a powerful message: Americans retain the right to defend themselves and others when lives are at risk.

This trial extended beyond Penny — it highlighted deeper societal tensions. Increasingly, high-profile cases are politicized, diverting justice to serve narratives rather than truth. Activists immediately labeled Penny’s actions as racially motivated despite the absence of supporting evidence. Prosecutors pursued charges many saw as driven by mob pressure instead of justice. Such cases undermine trust in the legal system, where evidence — not public sentiment — should determine guilt or innocence.

Beyond the courtroom, this case exposes a broader urban crisis in cities like New York. Major urban centers increasingly face disorder fueled by lenient crime policies and weak enforcement. Citizens are often compelled to intervene because authorities fail to ensure safety and order. Penny’s case underscores this grim reality: a private citizen acting to protect others when the system falls short. Should we penalize those who step up to ensure public safety in the absence of effective law enforcement?

The mob justice surrounding this case highlights how activists and media narratives can distort public perception. Groups like Black Lives Matter framed this incident as a racial issue and even resorted to threats of violence to pressure the courts. These tactics erode the principles of due process, fostering an environment where guilt is presumed before the facts are examined. Justice must remain impartial regardless of public outcry.

While Neely’s death is undeniably tragic, it underscores systemic failures that shaped his circumstances. A repeat offender with a long history of mental illness and homelessness, Neely was abandoned by the very systems meant to protect him. His family, absent during his struggles, now fuels a narrative of racial injustice rather than addressing the deeper issues behind his decline. This approach exploits tragedy for opportunism rather than seeking real solutions.

For Penny, the trial’s end brings relief — but at tremendous personal cost. Cast into the national spotlight, he became a symbol of the right to self-defense — a fundamental right that should never be in question. His hard-won acquittal represents a victory for those who prioritize fairness and evidence over mob-driven narratives.

This case serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to confront the root causes of such tragedies: the mental health crisis, homelessness, and the erosion of public safety. Cities like New York must enforce laws consistently and provide meaningful resources to those in need. Leaders have a responsibility to rebuild trust in institutions and ensure that citizens are not forced to shoulder the burden of public safety alone.

The verdict delivers a powerful message: Americans retain the right to defend themselves and others when lives are at risk. This principle transcends political divides and underscores the importance of justice rooted in facts, not ideology. Properly executed, justice upholds fundamental rights and offers hope for fairness in a polarized society.

Daniel Penny’s acquittal represents more than just his personal vindication. It stands as a victory for all Americans who value the rule of law, the right to self-defense, and the integrity of due process. Despite the challenges, Penny’s case reaffirms that the courtroom remains a place where truth and evidence prevail. At a time when the justice system is under scrutiny, that’s something worth celebrating.

Daniel Penny may receive congressional honor thanks to Rep. Eli Crane



Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona introduced a resolution on Friday to give Daniel Penny the Congressional Gold Medal. The medal is Congress' highest civilian honor.

Penny is currently on trial following the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely, who was allegedly threatening bystanders on a New York City subway in May 2023. Neely, who had schizophrenia, was allegedly making threats to passengers and behaving erratically, prompting Penny to retrain him in a chokehold.

'The courageous actions taken in response to the threat to his community by Daniel Penny, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, went beyond the civilian call of duty.'

As of this writing, the jury deadlocked over the manslaughter charge against Penny, which was then dropped. The jury will continue deliberating on the lesser charges.

"Daniel Penny's actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice," Crane said in a Friday post on X. "I'm immensely proud to introduce this resolution to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism."

The resolution not only praises Penny's actions but also criticizes the Biden administration and various Democratic policies that have produced rampant crime across American cities.

"Throughout President Biden’s term as President, local governments across various cities and States failed to adequately protect residents and their property from violent criminals," the resolution reads.

"The courageous actions taken in response to the threat to his community by Daniel Penny, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, went beyond the civilian call of duty," the resolution continued.

The resolution dubbed Penny a hero who deserves commemoration regardless of his pending verdict.

"It is the sense of the Congress that Daniel Penny, with integrity and honor that is characteristic of who he is and of his honorable service in the United States Marine Corps, stepped in to protect women and children from an individual who was threatening to kill innocent bystanders, and he is a hero," the resolution reads.

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UPDATE: Manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny dropped



After three days of deliberation, the jury in the trial of Daniel Penny reported Friday to the judge that they were unable to reach a verdict in the first count of manslaughter in the second degree.

Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran, was arrested after he got into an altercation with a man named Jordan Neely, who was making death threats against passengers on a subway train in New York City. Videos showed Penny subduing the man with a chokehold, which led to Neely's death. Penny was charged with manslaughter by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

On Friday the prosecutors responded to the jury development by telling the judge they could drop the first count in order to continue with the case. The judge said that he was apprehensive about continuing the case against Penny and went to recess to consider the issue.

The second count is criminally negligent homicide, which carries a lesser punishment upon conviction.

Several witnesses on the subway train have defended Penny and called him a hero for his actions, while some activists have accused him of racism because Neely was a black man.

This is a developing story, and additional information may be added.

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Daniel Penny SPEAKS OUT: 'I had to act!'



Daniel Penny is breaking his silence.

The 24-year-old Marine veteran was caught on video with his arm around the head and neck of Jordan Neely on the subway in May.

Neely died shortly after, and Penny was charged with manslaughter.

“This was a scary situation,” Penny explained in a video he has now released to the public.

Penny said that he stands at 6-feet-2-inches tall, and Neely was taller than him.

“There’s a common misconception that Marines don’t get scared,” Penny continued, “one of our core values is courage; and courage is not the absence of fear but how you handle fear.”

“I was scared for myself, but I looked around, I saw women and children. He was yelling in their faces, saying, saying these threats. I couldn’t just sit still,” he added.

Penny also said the interaction was less than five minutes — rather than 15 minutes as some have speculated.

“Some people say I was trying to choke him to death, which is also not true. I was trying to restrain him.”

Penny noted that in the video, you can see a clear rise and fall of his chest, as again, he was not trying to kill Neely but rather stop him from carrying out any of his threats.

“And then some people say that this was about race, which is absolutely ridiculous. I didn’t see a black man threatening passengers, I saw a man threatening passengers,” Penny continued.

Eric July joins Sara Gonzales on "The News & Why it Matters" to discuss why he believes Penny was right to defend those women and children.

“Jordan Neely had a very, very long rap sheet of criminal behavior — and yet — if you’re riding the subway in New York, you should be too scared to defend yourself or women and children around you,” July says.

“They’d much rather you be scared to death to the point to where someone does something to you, often irreversible — and they’d much rather that happen as opposed to you doing something and putting it in your own hands,” he adds.

“Because every time that happens,” July continues, that person is “met with some sort of consequence.”


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