Following the acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny, New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino is advocating for a federal civil rights investigation into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office. Paladino alleges Bragg's prosecution of Penny, among other cases, was politically driven.
In a Tuesday interview on "Fox & Friends First," Paladino questioned Bragg's handling of the high-profile subway chokehold case, suggesting a vendetta against Penny. She believes the case was unnecessarily racialized and warrants a thorough investigation of the DA's office.
A vocal supporter of Penny, Paladino previously expressed her belief that the 26-year-old veteran was "failed by the system." She demanded a fair trial for Penny, who was charged in the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Penny was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide after placing Neely in a chokehold following Neely's threats towards subway passengers. The manslaughter charge was ultimately dropped due to a hung jury, and Penny was acquitted of the lesser charge. This verdict sparked protests from Black Lives Matter activists.
Paladino suggested the initial jury deadlock indicated a predisposition to convict Penny regardless of the evidence. She believes the quick turnaround in the final verdict reflects this sentiment.
New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Bragg, in a statement following the acquittal, expressed respect for the jury's decision and condemned the threats directed at his office's prosecutors. He emphasized the prosecutors' dedication to public service and thanked them, the NYPD, and Judge Wiley for their contributions to the case.
Maud Maron, a Republican challenging Bragg, also criticized the District Attorney, highlighting his policies on prosecuting resisting arrest and treating certain felonies as misdemeanors. She believes the Penny case will define Bragg's legacy, portraying him as attempting to prosecute a veteran who acted bravely to protect subway passengers.
