ALBANY – NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to Daniel Penny’s acquittal:

“Today’s acquittal of Daniel Penny is a victory for justice and a testament to the enduring courage of ordinary New Yorkers who refuse to stand idly by in the face of danger. Daniel Penny is not only vindicated by this verdict but celebrated as the hero he is: a Marine who stepped up to protect his fellow citizens on a subway system that has become a symbol of lawlessness under Democratic leadership.

“However, this case highlights deeper and troubling flaws in New York’s justice system. It is not just about Daniel Penny: it is about a legal and political framework that Albany Democrats have corrupted to serve their radical agenda. By blocking Governor Kathy Hochul’s nominee for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and installing an openly progressive judicial activist in Rowan Wilson, Albany Democrats sent a dangerous message that political ideology trumps the rule of law. This judicial corruption has emboldened lower court judges to prioritize progressive orthodoxy over impartiality, an attitude clearly at play in the Penny trial.

“The judge’s dismissal of the manslaughter charge, driven by this activist judicial climate, needlessly narrowed the scope of justice in this case, leaving the jury to deliberate within the constraints of a politicized legal process. While the jury ultimately reached the right verdict, this trial never should have proceeded in the first place. Alvin Bragg’s politically motivated prosecution of Daniel Penny was an assault on public safety and a chilling warning to New Yorkers: even acts of courage and selflessness can make you a target in today’s New York.

“The New York Republican Party stands with Daniel Penny and with all New Yorkers who believe in fairness, accountability and the rule of law. This trial underscores the urgent need for new leadership that prioritizes safety, justice and moral clarity over partisan agendas and radical activism.”

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