Atlantic County Times

Today, Congressman Van Drew expressed his views on the trial of Daniel Penny, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Penny intervened in May 2023 to protect subway passengers from Jordan Neely, a homeless man with a violent history who became aggressive on a New York City subway.

"The only thing Daniel Penny is guilty of is stepping up to protect innocent people in a dangerous, unpredictable situation," stated Congressman Van Drew. He further commented that Penny's actions were what any responsible person would do when faced with an immediate threat. Convicting him, according to Van Drew, could discourage others from helping those in need due to fear of repercussions.

Van Drew criticized certain policies, stating, "The left's weak-on-crime policies have fueled a rise in violent crime in our cities, leaving people fearful for their safety." He emphasized that Penny demonstrated courage that many elected officials lack and believes such heroism should be recognized rather than penalized.

In the incident last year, Penny restrained Neely to prevent further threats after Neely began making threats and scaring passengers. This action led to Neely's death and subsequently resulted in charges against Penny.