Daniel Penny gets a job about 2 months after being acquitted in Jordan Neely’s death, lauded by JD Vance, ‘Incredible’

Daniel Penny has landed a job at a powerhouse Silicon Valley venture capital firm less than two months after being acquitted in the death of Jordan Neely.

Published on: Feb 5, 2025, 11:38:24 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Daniel Penny has landed a job at a powerhouse Silicon Valley venture capital firm less than two months after being acquitted in the death of Jordan Neely. Andreesen Horowitz hired the Marine veteran to work in Manhattan as a deal partner on the firm’s American Dynamism team. As per the company’s website, it invests in government and defense tech.

Daniel Penny lands a job less than two months after acquittal (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, File) (AP)

‘Daniel acted with courage in a tough situation’

In an internal memo sent to employees on Tuesday, February 4, Penny was appreciated for his “courage.” “I believe, as I know many of you do, that Daniel acted with courage in a tough situation,” David Ulevitch, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, wrote in the internal statement obtained by The Free Press.

The statement added, “He was acquitted of all charges. Beyond that, it has always been our policy to evaluate the entire person and not judge them for the worst moment in their entire life.”

On December 9, 2024, 26-year-old Penny was acquitted by a Manhattan jury on charges of criminally negligent homicide. He was recorded on video putting 30-year-old Neely in a chokehold after the homeless man menaced other people on May 1, 2023, while on an uptown F train in Manhattan. According to witnesses, Neely expressed frustration with his living conditions, saying, "I don't care if I go to jail" and "I'm ready to die,” making some people feel intimidated. However, they said that Neely initiated no physical contact.

“He will learn the business of investing and he will work to support our portfolio,” Ulevitch said of Penny, adding that he will contribute towards strengthening the firm’s relationships with the Department of Defense and public safety sector. “We believe in Daniel and are excited to have him as part of our team.”

Penny has largely avoided the spotlight since his trial. After the news of him landing a job surfaced, he was praised by Vice President JD Vance. “Incredible news,” Vance wrote on X.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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