Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran recently charged with second-degree manslaughter, has seen his legal defense fund swell to nearly $2 million, demonstrating significant public support in his favor. The fundraising campaign, hosted on Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo by Raiser & Kenniff P.C., Penny’s legal representation, surpassed $1.8 million by Sunday evening.
The charges against Penny stem from an altercation on a New York City subway train earlier this month, during which Penny placed a homeless man, Jordan Neely, in a fatal chokehold. The Penny legal team conveyed their client’s appreciation for the generous public backing during a recent conversation with Fox News Digital.
“The outpouring of generosity and support for Daniel Penny, is beyond anything we could have imagined,” attorney Kenniff stated. “Daniel is incredibly grateful for the support of so many New Yorkers.”
According to the fundraiser’s description, the collected funds will be used to cover Penny’s legal fees, including potential future civil lawsuits. Surplus donations will be channeled to a mental health advocacy program in New York City, further extending the impact of this campaign.
The incident leading to Penny’s charges is still under scrutiny by authorities. Eyewitness accounts suggest that Neely, 30, who suffered from mental illness and had a criminal history, was acting erratically and threatening fellow subway passengers before his death.
One passenger, a 66-year-old woman, recounted Neely’s chilling threats to the New York Post, “He said, ‘I would kill a motherf—er. I don’t care. I’ll take a bullet. I’ll go to jail.’”
However, Juan Alberto Vazquez, a freelance journalist who captured the incident on camera, maintained that Neely did not physically assault any commuters.
High-profile supporters have rallied behind Penny, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who encouraged his Twitter followers to contribute to the legal defense fund, underlining the broad backing for Penny.
“We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine… America’s got his back,” DeSantis wrote in his tweet.
Penny’s legal team has emphasized their client’s intention to protect his fellow passengers during the incident, painting a picture of a decorated veteran placing others’ safety before his own.
“When Mr. Penny… stepped in to protect himself and his fellow New Yorkers, his well-being was not assured,” Steve Raiser, Penny’s attorney, stated. “He risked his own life and safety, for the good of his fellow passengers.”
Penny’s attorneys received criticism from Neely’s family lawyers, who described their statement as a “character assassination.”
“The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordan’s history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordan’s neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing,” attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards representing Neely’s family stated.
Penny is scheduled to return to court in July, and if convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. But with the overwhelming financial support and public sentiment leaning in his favor, the fundraising campaign’s success undoubtedly brings good news to Penny’s camp.
