(DailyVantage.com) – New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino has called on the incoming Trump administration to launch a federal civil rights investigation into the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office following the acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny. Paladino claims that District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s handling of the high-profile subway chokehold case, among others, was politically motivated and racially charged.
“The Manhattan D.A. has made this racial,” Paladino told Fox & Friends First. “We’ve seen what A.G. Bragg has been capable of pursuing. Between Trump and now this case, it’s clear—it’s a vendetta. He is politicized, and the entire Manhattan D.A.’s Office needs to be investigated.”
Paladino, a Republican, has been a vocal advocate for Penny, who was charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide after placing Jordan Neely, a homeless man, in a fatal chokehold on a New York City subway. Neely, 30, had reportedly been threatening passengers before Penny, 26, intervened.
The manslaughter charge was dropped at the prosecution’s request last week after jurors twice failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Penny was acquitted of the remaining charge of criminally negligent homicide on Monday, sparking outrage among activists, including Black Lives Matter supporters, who pledged to protest the outcome.
Paladino accused Bragg of pushing for a conviction regardless of the evidence. “The jurors knew they were sent in to convict him no matter what,” she said. “This entire process was politicized from the start.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg issued a statement following the verdict, acknowledging the jury’s decision while condemning threats against prosecutors and their families during the trial. “Talented career prosecutors were besieged with hate and threats… This is unacceptable,” Bragg said. He also thanked law enforcement and jurors for their work, asserting his office’s commitment to public service.
Criticism of Bragg extended beyond Paladino. Maud Maron, a Republican attorney challenging Bragg for his position, appeared on Fox & Friends to denounce his record. “This case will be his legacy,” Maron said, arguing that Penny acted bravely to protect subway passengers. She also criticized Bragg’s approach to crime, citing policies that treat certain felonies as misdemeanors.
Penny’s acquittal has reignited debates over public safety, self-defense, and prosecutorial discretion in politically charged cases. Paladino’s call for federal intervention signals that the fallout from this case may continue well into the next administration.
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