Yavapai News

A Republican member of the House is seeking to honor a U.S. Marine veteran, Daniel Penny, who faces charges in connection with the death of a homeless man on a New York City subway. Representative Eli Crane from Arizona intends to propose a resolution awarding Penny the Congressional Gold Medal.

Crane stated, "Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice." He further criticized the justice system, saying it "is fiercely corrupt," and praised Penny for his bravery. Crane described Penny's efforts as protecting fellow Americans and expressed pride in introducing the resolution to recognize his heroism.

Penny is currently on trial for the death of Jordan Neely, aged 30, which occurred in May 2023. Witnesses reported that Neely exhibited erratic behavior and made threatening remarks before Penny intervened by placing him in a chokehold for approximately six minutes, resulting in Neely's death.

Penny's defense argues that his actions were necessary to protect himself and other passengers and questions whether the chokehold directly caused Neely's death due to other factors like Neely having K2 in his system. Prosecutors contend that Neely did not pose an immediate threat and blame Penny for recklessly causing his death by maintaining the chokehold even after Neely became unresponsive.

The incident has sparked broader discussions about vigilantism versus urban crime policies. In support of his resolution, Crane emphasized that Penny "protected women and children of the city of New York" during the incident on May 1, 2023.

The legislative text also criticizes local governments under President Biden's administration for failing to protect residents from violent criminals adequately. It describes Penny's actions as going beyond civilian duty by restraining someone with numerous prior arrests until police arrived.