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Daniel Penny, the previous US Marine who was not too long ago acquitted of the killing of New York Metropolis subway rider Jordan Neely, spent Saturday rubbing elbows with President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance on the annual Military-Navy soccer sport in Maryland.
The demise of the homeless Black avenue performer sparked outrage and calls for for justice for homeless New Yorkers, whereas Penny — and a few witnesses aboard the prepare — argued he was a hazard to others onboard. The previous Marine held Neely in a deadly chokehold for greater than six minutes.
“He was just threatening to kill people,” Penny instructed Fox Information host Jeanine Pirro. “He was threatening to go to jail forever, to go to jail for the rest of his life.”
Penny emerged as a heroic determine amongst Republican officers and on right-wing media. Following his acquittal, Vance invited him to the Military-Navy sport.
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JD Vance and Daniel Penny seem inside Trump’s suite on the Military-Navy soccer sport in Maryland on December 14 (REUTERS)
“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance wrote on X earlier this week. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”
Donald Trump Jr shared a photograph of Penny with Trump and Vance alongside the caption “frequent sense reigns once more!!!”
On Might 1, 2023, Penny positioned Neely in a chokehold for practically six minutes, persevering with at the same time as passengers on the prepare disembarked and Neely grew to become immobile.
Passengers grew to become alarmed when Neely reportedly started yelling on the prepare that he wanted meals, water, shelter, a job, and that he was keen to die. He additionally reportedly threw trash at passengers.
The town’s health worker’s workplace concluded that Penny’s chokehold killed Neely as a consequence of compression of the neck.
After Neely’s demise, Penny was charged with manslaughter and negligent murder.
Prosecutors dropped a extra severe manslaughter after a Manhattan jury deadlocked on a verdict.
On December 9, he was acquitted on the remaining cost of criminally negligent murder.
Each charges have been felonies and carried the potential of jail time.
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JD Vance invited Daniel Penny to hitch Trump’s suite on the Military-Navy soccer sport (REUTERS)
Throughout his trial, a GiveSendGo fundraiser for Penny’s authorized protection grew to become the second most profitable marketing campaign within the web site’s historical past, elevating greater than $3 million, thanks largely to right-wing assist.
In the meantime, protesters throughout New York Metropolis held occasions demanding justice for Neely’s demise.
The household of Neely has since filed a wrongful demise lawsuit accusing Penny of negligent contact, assault, and battery that precipitated accidents and in the end demise.
Neely, who had beforehand labored a avenue performer and Michael Jackson impersonator, had a historical past of homelessness and schizophrenia. He had been beforehand accused of assaulting folks at subway stations, however he didn’t contact anybody on the day he was killed.
Penny joined a number of different incoming Trump administration officers and distinguished Republicans within the president-elect’s suite.
Former Fox Information host and protection secretary nominee Pete Hegseth; proposed director of nationwide intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; Home Speaker Mike Johnson; incoming Senate Majority Chief John Thune; Pennsylvania Senator-elect David McCormick; and Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk have been additionally in attendance.
