JD Vance Hosts Daniel Penny as Guest at Army-Navy Game After Acquittal
Marine veteran Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide by a Manhattan jury this week.
Daniel Penny, who was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide during an incident involving a threatening passenger on a New York subway, has accepted an invitation from Vice President-elect J.D. Vance to attend the annual rivalry game on December 14 between the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.
“I’m thankful he accepted my invitation and hope he enjoys the game and recognizes the admiration his fellow citizens have for his bravery.”
A more serious charge, second-degree manslaughter, was dismissed by Judge Maxwell Wiley after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
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The homeless man was reportedly “[yelling] that he was tired and didn’t care about going to jail.” When he threw his jacket down, fellow passengers moved away, which was when Penny placed Neely in a chokehold.
“There are always outbursts on the train,” he explained. “Sadly, in New York City, it’s not unusual to see people speaking erratically, but this was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It felt very serious. I completely believed what he was saying.”
Penny expressed no remorse for his actions.
“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did nothing and someone got hurt,” he stated. “I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life.”
The Army-Navy game is scheduled to take place at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, at 3 p.m. ET. The Navy leads the all-time series, which commenced in 1890, with a record of 62-55-7.
This season, Army holds an overall record of 11–1 in the American Athletic Conference, with an 8–0 conference record.
Navy, competing in the same conference, enters the game with an overall record of 8–3 and a conference record of 6–2.
