Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera stunned many on Twitter when he shared an unusually thoughtful take on the upcoming trial of Marine Corps veteran Daniel Penny in the Jordan Neely chokehold case.
The former daytime TV mainstay and dedicated liberal predicted the 24-year-old New Yorker ultimately will be found not guilty of manslaughter in the May 1 incident that proved fatal for Neely.
The mentally disturbed homeless man entered a New York subway car and reportedly threatened passengers and declared he was ready to serve a sentence of life in prison.
Such a statement could be interpreted by a rational person as a death threat.
Tensions are high right now in the city given the uptick in overall violence and especially how dangerous New York’s transit system is.
Penny surely was not aware of Neely’s lengthy and troubling criminal record when he subdued the man, but people who ride the subway have every right to be vigilant.
Leftist Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not see it that way. Penny is now facing a charge of second-degree manslaughter with a potential prison term of up to 15 years.
Rivera hypothesized online Monday that Penny will never see a day in prison.
The TV host pointed out the case has divided Americans but noted Neely’s past as a public menace.
“Like the Bernhard Goetz ‘Subway Vigilante’ case, which I covered back in the 1980’s, a jury will decide whether Penny was reasonably justified in using deadly physical force to subdue the troubled Neely,” Rivera said in his Twitter post.
“Remember, the jury acquitted Goetz of all charges (except possession of an illegal weapon),” he said. “That acquittal is a likely outcome in this case. Neely’s death seems a tragic accident, not a reckless homicide.”
The choking death of Jordan Neely by 24-year old Marine veteran Daniel Penny has divided the city and the nation along racial lines.
Donations are pouring into Penny’s legal defense fund, even as more modest but still substantial funds are going to a funeral fund for Mr. Neely,…— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) May 15, 2023
Rivera’s take on the case was noted by some for its profound and rare lucidity, given the source:
Unusually lucid assessment by Rivera, Esq.
— Jorge E. Ravelo (@jeravelo) May 15, 2023
Well well, the Geraldo that the world revered and once highly respected has finally reappeared! Kudos to you for your Fox report this morning & for admitting you just learned the TRUTH about Neely & what really happened! Would be nice to see this continue!
— Jackie ?? (@Jackie9900) May 15, 2023
Geraldo got one right! Most likely a tragic accident. The divisions can be attributed to politicians and media rushing to judge the incident and invoking racial motives with zero evidence.
— DB Cooper ??? (@DBCoope43604497) May 15, 2023
Very good take from you, Geraldo, touching on all sides of the issue.
— Matt Micros (@macros114) May 15, 2023
Based only upon various media reporting / video, for now, I agree with your conclusion. I find it odd that DA Bragg did not use the grand jury. I still believe elements of our criminal justice system are flawed. We shall see.
— John Robert Finch (@JohnRobertFinch) May 15, 2023
Of course, the 79-year-old did have his detractors:
A 15 minute chokehold is not an accident.
— ama0807 (@Am12625142) May 15, 2023
Dude, DID NOT have to choke him for that long. He was homeless and rides the subway constantly. Whites are always trying to justify their action. It is 2nd degree manslaughter.
— ???Darpersonaltouch?? (@Darperson58) May 15, 2023
You’re deeply troubled Geraldo.
— JC (@JohnnyCarlino) May 15, 2023
Meanwhile, one person was still curious as to where Al Capone’s buried treasure is after Rivera failed to find it in what was one of the most anticlimactic moments in 1980s television:
Ok G… Where’s Al’s safe? https://t.co/g9ENil3U65
— Sofa King Bueno (@DrKentu) May 15, 2023
Rivera has long been ridiculed for his head-scratching opinions and flawed arguments, but he apparently has a few curveballs left.
He got it right on this one.
Judging from what is publicly known about the Neely case, it’s clear Penny acted to defend himself and others.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.