Daniel Penny, a military veteran who strangled an agitated New York subway passenger and was acquitted of homicide this week, was invited by Vice President-elect JD Vance to join Donald Trump’s entourage at the football game between Army and Navy on Saturday.
The Navy veteran was cleared of criminally negligent homicide In Jordan Neely dies in 2023. A more serious manslaughter charge was fired last week.
What you need to know
- Daniel Penny, a military veteran who choked an agitated New York subway passenger and was acquitted of homicide this week, was invited by Vice President-elect JD Vance to join Donald Trump’s entourage at the football game between Army and Navy on Saturday.
- Vance, who served in the Marine Corps, including in Iraq, said this week that “justice has been served in this case” and that Penny should never have been prosecuted.
- Penny has been hailed as a hero by many, but Neely’s death has also divided the town as residents wonder how to respond to mental health crises threatening public safety.
Vance said Penny, 26, accepted his invitation.
“Daniel is a good guy, and the New York mob prosecutor tried to ruin his life because he had a backbone,” Vance said in an article on X. “I’m grateful he agreed my invitation and I hope he can enjoy himself and appreciate how much his fellow citizens greatly admire his courage.
In a statement, Thomas Kenniff, Penny’s attorney, said he and his team “were all shocked when the Vice President-elect contacted us to congratulate us and to invite Danny to be his guest at the football game. Army Navy this weekend. “.
“Danny’s first reaction was to say ‘there are a lot of more deserving veterans than me.’ Steve Raiser and I responded that we shouldn’t say no to the new vice president of the United States,” Kenniff said. “Danny can’t wait to attend.”
Vance, who served in the Marine Corps, including in Iraq, said this week that “justice has been served in this case” and that Penny should never have been prosecuted.
Penny has been hailed as a hero by many, but Neely’s death has also divided the town as residents wonder how to respond to mental health crises threatening public safety.
Passengers said Neely did not touch anyone but expressed a desire to die, go to prison or even kill. The former street performer was homeless, suffered from schizophrenia and had synthetic marijuana in his system. He had been convicted of assaulting people in subway stations.