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Over the course of six days, subway vigilante Daniel Penny has gone from fearing a jail sentence to spending time with the president-elect in a luxury suite.
The Marine veteran was greeted as a hero on Saturday when he joined soon-to-be President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the annual Army-Navy football game, the New York Post reported on Friday.
Penny, who was acquitted Monday by a Manhattan jury in the chokehold death of NYC subway rider Jordan Neely, was the personal guest of Vance at the intense rivalry game, watching from the president-elect’s suite at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD.
WATCH:
SPOTTED: American Hero Daniel Penny joins VP-elect @JDVance at the @ArmyNavyGame.
President Trump is en route. pic.twitter.com/bigGt8xyBj
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 14, 2024
“Others attending the game included Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Intelligence Director nominee Tulsi Gabbard, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and billionaire Elon Musk,” the New York Post noted. “Before kickoff, Penny dressed in a navy blue suit and tie, was spotted in the luxury suite talking with Vance, the future veep’s wife, Usha, and Johnson.”
Later, Trump was seen standing next to Vance, shaking his fist and waving to the crowd as they chanted, “USA! USA!” He saluted during the singing of the National Anthem.
Trump took a moment to greet Penny while he and Vance posed for several photos with the Marine veteran. Vance was seen patting Penny on the back as they chatted with Trump, and earlier, they were laughing together while greeting another guest.
“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance noted on the X platform on Friday, while also referencing far-left Soros-funded Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage,” Vance added.
Gabbard, an Iraq war vet who remains an officer in the Army Reserve, told The Post it was an honor to join Trump “surrounded by great Americans celebrating freedom and what it means to serve.”
“Standing alongside courageous Americans like Daniel Penny was special, as he embodies the courage of our nation’s warriors, both in and out of uniform,” she added. “This game is not just about football; it’s a heartfelt tribute to service and unity, reminding us of the sacrifices made for our freedoms.”
Vance invited Penny, 26, from Long Island, to the game at the 65,000-seat stadium of the Washington Commanders while texting her lead attorney, Thomas Kenniff, to congratulate him on the verdict.
“He’s very humbled and grateful to be invited,” Kenniff told The Post Saturday.
Navy resoundingly won Saturday’s game 31-13 and now leads the series 63-55 with seven games ending in a tie, The Post noted. With the win, the Navy boosted its record to 9-3, while the 22-ranked Army, who won the American Athletic Conference, fell to 11-2.
The series has been played every year since 1930, and it dates back to 1890.
Penny and his legal team were seen celebrating in Manhattan on Monday following his acquittal in a high-profile manslaughter trial.
The former Marine was spotted enjoying a beer with his defense attorneys, Kenniff and Steven Raiser, at Stone Street Tavern in the Financial District just hours after a jury cleared him of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely.
The group later continued their evening at the American Whiskey bar in Midtown, the New York Post reported.
Penny
had faced the possibility of up to four years in prison if convicted. When asked how he was feeling, a visibly relieved Penny, accompanied by security guards, simply replied, “Great,” as his lawyers kept him away from reporters, The Post added.
Kenniff noted that his client will move on and attempt to get his life back.
“He’ll be looking to resume, get his life back together,” he said. “The situation like this, we savor the victory but all the harm that has been done to him just doesn’t vanish. That’s true of anyone who is falsely accused.”
