PENNY IS THE VICTIM OF A POLITICAL PROSECUTION FUELED BY BLOODTHIRSTY MOBS

'We can't have the inmates running the asylum': Ron DeSantis doubles down on his defense of 'Good Samaritan' Marine Daniel Penny and says he's looking out for him 'as a fellow vet'

DeSantis said today he hopes the charges against Penny are 'dropped'.  Penny is facing 15 years in prison if convicted of 2nd degree manslaughter 

By Jen Smith

Daily Mail

May 16, 2023

Today, speaking at a bill signing ceremony at the Coastal Community Church at Lighthouse Point, Florida, DeSantis doubled down on his position on the May 1 incident

 

Ron DeSantis is doubling down on his defense of Marine Daniel Penny, saying today 'we can't have the inmates running the asylum' in reference to how he put mentally ill Jordan Neely in a chokehold after he threatened passengers on a NYC subway. 

Penny, 24, has been charged with second degree manslaughter for the death of Neely, 30, on May 1. 

Witnesses say Neely was shouting, screaming and threatening to 'kill a motherf****r' when Penny put him in a chokehold. Video shows bystanders telling Penny he risks 'killing him', but the Marine continued to hold onto him. 

DeSantis is among a number of Republicans to have defended Penny and call for the charges to be dropped. 

 

Penny, 24, has been charged with second degree manslaughter for the chokehold death of Neely, 30, on May 1       

Penny did not remain a silent bystander

 

Today, speaking at a bill signing ceremony at the Coastal Community Church at Lighthouse Point, Florida, he doubled down on his position. 

'As a vet, vets look out for other vets. What we can't have in our society is inmates running the asylum. 

'What you saw on the subway was a guy that was very dangerous putting people in harm's way, he was boasting that he may do harm.

'To be able to step in as a Good Samaritan and protect people, it's the right thing to do. I don't think he should be prosecuted. You have a prosecutor there that sides with the criminal element over law-abiding citizens. And when people have the temerity to fight back against the criminal element, he goes after them.

A GiveSendGo account set up for Penny has now raised close to $2.5million. 

'Hopefully with all the money raised he's going to be able to beat this case. I hope the charges are dropped but if they're not, I think he's going to be able to win in the end,' said DeSantis, who was deployed to Iraq as a JAG officer in 2007, offering legal advice to commanders. 

 

Marine Veteran Daniel Penny, 24,  after turning himself in to police last week 

'As a vet, vets look out for other vets,' said DeSantis, who deployed to Iraq as a JAG officer in 2007, offering legal advice to commanders

 

Kid Rock has donated $5,000 to the fund, while GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy  donated $10,000. DeSantis' name does not appear in the list of top donors to Penny's defense fund. 

In a tweet over the weekend, however, he threw his weight behind him. 

'We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens.

'We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let's show this Marine… America's got his back,' he said. 

Penny's attorneys say Bragg's office 'blindsided' them with the charges, which carry a maximum of 15 years in prison. 

Penny was arraigned last week and surrendered his passport.