After Acquittal, More Republicans Join Rep. Crane In Support Of Daniel Penny

After Acquittal, More Republicans Join Rep. Crane In Support Of Daniel Penny

By Daniel Stefanski |

More U.S. Representatives are joining an Arizona lawmaker’s plans to honor a former U.S. Marine who came under domestic “fire” in The City That Never Sleeps.

On his X account this week, U.S. Congressman Eli Crane posted that three additional representatives had co-sponsored his resolution that would award Daniel Penny with the Congressional Gold Medal. Those individuals were U.S. Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Warren Davidson, and Burgess Owens.

These three legislators follow U.S. Representatives Wesley Hunt, Tom McClintock, Greg Steube, Andy Ogles, and Nick Langworthy in co-sponsoring the resolution.

According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, this award is “Congress’s highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals, institutions, or groups.” Two-thirds of both the U.S. House and Senate are required to co-sponsor this resolution in order to ensure a vote. One hundred fifty-eight people have earned this recognition from Congress, including America’s first U.S. President, George Washington.

Penny caught the nation’s attention on May 1, 2023, when he restrained an individual who was exhibiting threatening behavior toward passengers on a subway in New York City. After the man died, Penny was charged and brought to trial in the Big Apple by left-wing prosecutor Alvin Bragg. This week, after days of deliberations, a jury found Penny not guilty of the sole count remaining against him.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Congressman Crane said, “Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice. Our system of ‘justice’ is fiercely corrupt, allowing degenerates to steamroll our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous.”

Crane added, “Mr. Penny bravely stood in the gap to defy this corrupt system and protect his fellow Americans. I’m immensely proud to introduce this resolution to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism.”

The resolution states that “throughout President Biden’s term as President, local governments across various cities and States failed to adequately protect residents and their property from violent criminals,” and that the courageous actions taken in response to the threat to his community by Daniel Penny, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, went beyond the civilian call of duty.”

It expresses “the sense of the Congress that Daniel Penny, with integrity and honor that is characteristic of who he is and of his honorable service in the United States Marine Corps, stepped in to protect women and children from an individual who was threatening to kill innocent bystanders, and he is a hero.”

In an interview with Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro after his acquittal, Penny said, “The guilt I would have felt if someone did get hurt if he did do what he was threatening to do, [I] would never be able to live with myself. And I’ll take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed.”

Crane is finishing up his first term in the United States House of Representatives after being elected to Arizona’s Second Congressional District in November 2022. He is a military veteran of the United States Navy, serving thirteen years, including on SEAL Team 3. Before entering Congress, Crane also operated a small business.

This past November, Congressman Crane sailed to reelection over his Democrat opponent, with almost 55% of the vote. He serves on the Committees on Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Small Businesses. He is also a member of the House Freedom Caucus, Western Caucus, and Copper Caucus.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Rep. Crane Proposes Awarding Daniel Penny The Congressional Gold Medal

Rep. Crane Proposes Awarding Daniel Penny The Congressional Gold Medal

By Matthew Holloway |

Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) introduced a resolution Friday to award U.S. Marine Corps. Veteran Daniel Penny with the Congressional Gold Medal for his “courageous actions taken in response to the threat to his community.” The resolution was introduced three days before his acquittal on charges related to the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely on a New York City subway in 2023.

Penny, 26, was charged with second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide after he restrained the erratically behaving Neely, a schizophrenic homeless man with 42 prior arrests and an active warrant, in a chokehold until police could arrive. Neely had threatened other passengers on the train telling them, “someone’s going to die today.” As Penny fought to restrain the man with the help of other subway riders, he held the hold for about six minutes.

Neely later died at an area hospital. Authorities would later find that he had the synthetic drug K2 in his system at the time of his death, according to Fox News.

Prosecutors, fearing a hung jury amidst a deadlock, withdrew the manslaughter charges Friday and upon the juror’s return Monday, they found Penny innocent of the remaining lesser charge.

Speaking with the outlet, Crane, himself a retired Navy SEAL Sniper, told reporters, “Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice.” 

“Our system of ‘justice’ is fiercely corrupt, allowing degenerates to steamroll our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous. Mr. Penny bravely stood in the gap to defy this corrupt system and protect his fellow Americans. I’m immensely proud to introduce this resolution to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism.”

In the text of his resolution Crane wrote, “Throughout President Biden’s term as President, local governments across various cities and States failed to adequately protect residents and their property from violent criminals.”

He described Penny’s actions on the subway saying he, “protected women and children of the city of New York, New York, from violence on May 1, 2023.”

Crane added, “Daniel Penny, with others, acted to save New York City subway riders from threatening behavior by restraining a criminal – who had 42 prior arrests and an active warrant – until the police came. The courageous actions taken in response to the threat to his community by Daniel Penny, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, went beyond the civilian call of duty.”

“It is the sense of the Congress that Daniel Penny, with integrity and honor that is characterizstic of who he is and of his honorable service in the United States Marine Corps, stepped in to protect women and children from an individual who was threatening to kill innocent bystanders, and he is a hero.”

Following the not-guilty verdict on Monday, Crane called the decision a “massive vibe shift and a huge win for our nation.” He also criticized left-wing responses to the verdict writing, “The left has a completely backwards view of justice.”

Crane also reposted a Thursday comment on X comparing Penny’s case to the pardon of Hunter Biden writing, “A spoiled elite with a decade of crimes gets off scot-free while a selfless Marine who acted with courage gets put through the wringer. A radical realignment of our “justice” system is long overdue.”

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.