Supporters flood crowdfunding efforts for Daniel Penny, 24, as donations reach $2 million
Republican Party presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has donated $10,000 to a crowdfunding effort for Daniel Penny, who was charged with second-degree manslaughter for the death of a homeless schizophrenic.
The Enter SendGo The fundraising campaign — which has now risen to $2 million in donations — was mounted by the 24-year-old ex-Marine’s lawyers after a video emerged May 1 of him holding Jordan Neely in a chokehold on a New York City subway .
They say it will be used to pay the Long Island resident’s legal fees and for “any future civil litigation that may arise, as well as costs associated with his defense.”
On May 5, Rawaswamy tweeted his views on the case, stating that Jordan Neely was a “common offender” who “should have been brought to justice” sooner.
He then listed a series of crimes for which Neely had been arrested over the past eight years.
Republican Party presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has donated $10,000 to a crowdfunding effort for Daniel Penny, who was charged with second-degree manslaughter for the death of a homeless schizophrenic
Daniel Penny, 24, was charged with second-degree manslaughter against Jordan Neely, 30
This image, taken by Mills & Edwards, LLP, in New York, Friday, May 12, 2023, shows Jordan Neely
He wrote, “The moral of the Jordan Neely story is not complicated: he was a habitual offender who should have been behind bars or in a mental institution, not free to terrorize New Yorkers. If the local police had been allowed to do their job, that man would still be alive – in custody.
In 2015, Jordan Neely kidnapped a 7-year-old girl. In 2019, Jordan Neely punched a 64-year-old man in the face. In 2021, Jordan Neely punched a 67-year-old woman in the face as she exited the subway, breaking her nose and fracturing her eye socket. Neely was arrested 44 times, but was never charged with terrorizing New Yorkers. The @ManhattanDA shares responsibility for his death for creating an anti-law enforcement culture. Common criminals like Neely should not be allowed to roam free to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities.”
On Friday, Penny was released pending trial after turning himself in at a police station and appearing in court to answer criminal charges. He made no plea.
On Sunday, the campaign page hit the £1 million mark after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared a Twitter link to the page – showing that support for the former soldier has skyrocketed quickly.
Many of those who have donated large amounts of money to Penny’s cause are anonymous, including another who also made a $10,000 pledge.
They left a note that read, “Thank you for protecting the civilians that day.”
The third highest giver, who pledged $5,000, is also anonymous.
That person wrote, “Do the right thing. Dan did. It is not that hard.’
After his arrest, Ira Judelson, a bail bondsman, told DailyMail.com that Penny was “very quiet and nervous” and was “respectful.”
While Penny was charged in the aftermath, the other two men seen in the video holding Neely were never named nor charged with any wrongdoing.
Now, Penny’s family says, the Marine vet is “put on the rails” by the justice system.
“It’s disgusting,” Justine Baldwin, Penny’s niece, told the New York Post. “Here is a young man who served our country.”
“What about the other two gentlemen on the subway who helped (hold down Neely)? They haven’t even been given a name.’
While footage of Penny restraining Neely sparked controversy, his relatives described him as “calm” and a “nice boy.”
Some have tried to portray the veteran as a privileged individual in the aftermath of the incident, but those who knew him revealed that he grew up in a middle-class military family on Long Island.
“He was always there for his family and his sisters,” Baldwin added. “Danny has always been quiet, he comes from a quiet family.”
Neighbors reportedly added that he once even lived out of a van, previously sharing a three-bedroom home with his three sisters and parents.
“Danny was always funny and goofy and never hurt anyone,” said the Marine’s boyfriend, Devin Marino.
“He was always super inclusive,” he added. “His family was very nice and had an open door policy.”
Neighbors who knew Penny and his family in West Islip also praised the veteran, while Marcia Mulcahy, who lived opposite him for four years, described him as “a sweet child.”
“The family couldn’t have been nicer,” she added. “Just look at the fundraiser to see how people feel about him.
“We all contribute. He was just trying to help on the subway. Of course it was a scary situation and it all went wrong. But he didn’t go in to hurt anyone. He was trying to help.’
Penny’s attorney, Thomas Kenniff, revealed the veteran deployed twice during four years of service in the Marines, rising to the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 2021.