Amid a controversial legal case that has seen a Marine veteran charged with second-degree manslaughter, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly demonstrated his support for the young serviceman.
In a bold move that drew praise from the political Right, DeSantis promoted a fundraiser for 24-year-old Daniel Penny, who turned himself into authorities to face charges over the death of Jordan Neely.
In a Twitter post accompanied by a link to the fundraiser, DeSantis declared, “We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left’s pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law-abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine … America’s got his back.”
The incident that led to Penny’s arrest involved Neely, a homeless man with over 40 arrests and a history of mental health issues.
On a New York City subway, Neely launched into an aggressive tirade, reportedly yelling that he had no fear of going to jail.
Penny intervened, placing Neely in a chokehold, an action that ended tragically in Neely’s death.
Thomas Kenniff, Penny’s lawyer, spoke about the young Marine’s surrender to the authorities.
“This morning, Daniel Penny surrendered at the 5th Precinct at the request of the New York County District Attorney’s office. He did so voluntarily and with the sort of dignity and integrity that is characteristic of his history of service to this grateful nation,” Kenniff stated.
The decision to charge Penny was made by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office following protests over Neely’s death.
If convicted, Penny faces up to 15 years in prison. The NYC medical examiner classified Neely’s death as a “homicide” resulting from a “chokehold,” but a criminal trial is necessary to determine Penny’s intent or culpability.
Penny’s lawyers maintain that their client, along with other passengers, acted in self-defense against Neely’s threats.
“When Mr. Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves until help arrived. Daniel never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death,” the statement read.
Neely’s criminal history is extensive, punctuated by numerous guilty pleas for violent offenses.
One such incident involved Neely assaulting a 67-year-old woman as she exited a subway station. Another saw him attempting to kidnap a 7-year-old girl, whom witnesses reported he dragged down a street.
Neely never completed his alternative-to-incarceration program for the assault charge and served four months in jail for endangering the welfare of a child.
In the face of this controversy, Governor DeSantis’ support for Penny represents a principled stand against what he views as a pro-criminal bias.
By rallying for a Marine who intervened during a threatening situation, DeSantis underscores his commitment to preserving law and order while offering a robust defense of law-abiding citizens and their right to protect themselves and others.
