Vice President-elect JD Vance reportedly verified on Friday that he extended an invitation to Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran who was recently acquitted of a negligent homicide charge in New York City, to attend the Army-Navy college football game over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, the annual Army-Navy game will be played in Landover, Maryland.
“Penny, 26, was acquitted by a jury on a criminally negligent homicide allegation just days prior to his comments. Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone. I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.” Vance wrote on his X platform.
Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone.
I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage. https://t.co/b4bY0G0EM3
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 13, 2024
The defendant was initially charged with manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely, a violent homeless man who had been shouting at and threatening passengers on a New York City metro train.
Neely died after the defendant held him in a chokehold for several minutes while restraining him.
Penny informed Fox Nation presenter Jeanine Pirro that he was in a “vulnerable position” and feared for the safety of himself and others following his acquittal.
Penny is expected to observe the game from a suite alongside President-elect Trump, Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, and other individuals whom Trump has appointed to serve in his second administration.
The outcome of Penny’s case has been explicitly supported by Vance.
Neely was a homeless man who was impersonations on the subway. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was in possession of synthetic marijuana at the time of his demise.
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