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Daniel Penny, the former Marine who was acquitted in December of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, is stepping back into public life after months of legal scrutiny and national attention.

Neely, a 30-year-old Black man struggling with homelessness and schizophrenia, died in May 2023 after Penny restrained him in a chokehold on a New York City subway train.

Witnesses said Neely had been acting erratically and threatening passengers, including a pregnant woman and high school students.

Neely had a well-documented history of physically assaulting people on the subway.

“The guilt I would’ve 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 said in an interview with Fox News following his acquittal. “I completely believed” the threats Neely was making, he added.

The trial and ultimate acquittal of Penny took 19 months.

https://usaherald.com/grand-jury-indicts-daniel-penny-in-chokehold-death-on-new-york-subway/

Daniel Penny Returns to the Spotlight

Far from retreating from the public eye, the 26-year-old Penny has been embraced by several public figures and organizations. 

In December, he attended the Army-Navy football game as the guest of then-Vice President-elect JD Vance. By February, he had secured a position with Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

Most recently, Penny took the runway at New York’s “Dressed to Kilt” charity fashion show, where he was introduced to the crowd as a “hero.”

“The next gentleman, the next model, can actually trace mention of his family back to the 12th century in Scotland,” said show co-founder Geoffrey Scott Carroll during the introduction, as reported by the New York Post. “Having said that, he’s a very proud New Yorker and a very, very proud Marine.”

Carroll added, “Far from being a villain, this man was a hero to all the inhabitants of that subway car.”

Dressed to Kilt Backlash and Defense

Penny’s involvement in the fashion event stirred further controversy. However, Carroll defended the decision to include him in the lineup.

“Daniel Penny was invited to walk in the show in recognition of his service as a U.S. Marine and the values he represents,” Carroll said in a statement by The Independent. “His presence aligns with this year’s tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, and we were honored to have him represent the branch.”

“Dressed to Kilt,” co-founded in 2003 by Carroll and the late actor Sean Connery, has previously featured actors like Alan Cumming, Kiefer Sutherland, and Ed Westwick.

The Subway Tragedy

Neely's death was captured on bystander video and ignited weeks of protests across New York City. Many called the act vigilante violence, while others, including several Republican lawmakers, viewed Penny as a “good Samaritan.”

Penny placed Neely in a chokehold for about six minutes and continued restraining him even after he appeared to lose consciousness. Neely was later pronounced dead at a hospital. 

Although Penny initially faced a manslaughter charge, jurors dismissed that count during deliberations. He was ultimately acquitted of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.

Read more about the trial developments.