Ron DeSantis doubles down on his defense of “Good Samaritan” Marine Daniel Penny
‘We can’t let the inmates run the shelter’: Ron DeSantis doubles down on his defense of ‘Good Samaritan’ Marine Daniel Penny, saying he cares for him ‘like a fellow vet’
- DeSantis said today he hopes the charges against Penny are ‘dropped’
- Penny faces 15 years in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter
Ron DeSantis doubles down on his defense of Marine Daniel Penny by saying today “we can’t let the inmates run the asylum,” referring to how he put the mentally ill Jordan Neely in a stranglehold after threatening passengers on a NYC subway.
Penny, 24, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter for the May 1 death of Neely, 30.
Witnesses say Neely yelled, yelled and threatened to “kill a son of a bitch” when Penny put him in a chokehold. Video shows bystanders telling Penny to risk “killing” him, but the Marine continued to hold him.
DeSantis is one of several Republicans who have defended Penny and are calling for the charges to be dropped.
Today, speaking at a signing ceremony at Coastal Community Church in Lighthouse Point, Florida, he reiterated his position on the May 1 incident
Penny, 24, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter for the May 1 death of Neely, 30.
Today, speaking at a signing ceremony at Coastal Community Church in Lighthouse Point, Florida, he doubled down on his position.
‘As veterinarians, veterinarians watch out for other veterinarians. What we can’t have in our society are inmates running the asylum.
“What you saw on the subway was a man who was very dangerous to endanger people, he boasted that he might do harm.
“To be able to act as a Good Samaritan and protect people, that’s the right thing to do. I don’t think he should be prosecuted. You have a prosecutor there who sides with the criminal element over law-abiding citizens. And when people have the guts to fight back against the criminal element, he goes after them.
A GiveSendGo account set up for Penny has now raised nearly $2.5 million.
“Hopefully with all the money raised he can beat this case. I hope the charges are dropped, but if not, I think he could win in the end,” said DeSantis, who was deployed to Iraq in 2007 as a JAG officer and provided legal advice to commanders.
Marine veteran Daniel Penny, 24, after turning himself in to police last week
“As a vet, vets watch out for other vets,” said DeSantis, who was deployed to Iraq in 2007 as a JAG officer to provide commanders with legal advice
Kid Rock donated $5,000 to the fund, while GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000. DeSantis’ name is not on the list of top donors to Penny’s defense fund.
However, in a tweet over the weekend, he threw his weight behind him.
“We must defeat the Soros-funded DAs, stop the pro-criminal agenda of the left, and reclaim the streets for law-abiding citizens.
“We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine… America is behind him,” he said.
Penny’s lawyers say Bragg’s office “blinded” them with the charges, which carry a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Penny was charged last week and surrendered his passport.