Democrat NYC Mayor Eric Adams Strongly Defends Daniel Penny, Blasts Media

New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams strongly defended 26-year-old former U.S. Marine Daniel Penny, who’s been charged in the death of Jordan Neely.

Penny restrained Neely, a troubled man with a lengthy criminal record and a history of mental health issues, after Neely allegedly threatened passengers on a subway last year.

“We’re now on the subway where we’re hearing someone talking about hurting people, killing people,” Adams said, referring to Neely’s alleged threatening behavior. “You have someone [Penny] on that subway who was responding, doing what we should have done as a city.”

“Those passengers were afraid,” Adams emphasized, speaking to former New York gubernatorial candidate and radio host Rob Astorino. 

The mayor also referenced the mental health crisis in NYC. “Then you look at the complete failure of our mental health system, a complete failure from the days of closing psychiatric wards and having those who needed help just turned over into the street without giving any safety net to accept them.” 

In 2022, Adams faced criticism from the far-Left when he announced a plan to hospitalize some severely mentally ill people involuntarily, noting the city’s “moral obligation to act.”

Adams also accused the media of downplaying Neely’s alleged threatening behavior by promoting photos of a youthful Neely working as a Michael Jackson impersonator.

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“Look at the photo that they used to show the victim,” Adams said, “It seemed like it was a young innocent child who was brutally murdered, and it gave that impression when you look at the photo that was being used. It wanted to set up in the minds of people that we were dealing with a young innocent child that was, you know, just a Michael Jackson [impersonator].”

Neely, however, has a criminal record and a history of mental health issues. According to several witnesses, he threatened the subway train and made it clear he was willing to die or go to prison for life, if necessary.

It was also found that Neely had K2 and other drugs in his system when he died. K2 is a synthetic drug, sometimes called “spice,” which has been linked to psychosis.

Penny has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s death and could face up to 15 years behind bars. Jury deliberations in the case are expected to start Tuesday.

Related: Closing Arguments In Daniel Penny Trial: Prosecution Claims Racial Bias, Defense Defends Heroism