‘A Year Going Through Hell’: Jonathan Turley Says Bragg’s Penny Prosecution Sent ‘Mixed Message’

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Tuesday that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s effort to prosecute ex-Marine Daniel Penny ended up sending a “mixed message” — step up to protect the public and the justice system may “come after you.”

A Manhattan jury found Penny not guilty Monday on charges of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely after a judge dismissed a manslaughter charge against the Marine veteran. Turley said that Penny spent “a year going through hell” because of Bragg’s prosecution in the wake of Neely’s death after Penny restrained on a New York City subway in May 2023.

“Fortunately, the result is something that everyone can celebrate. But, really, this jury was speaking not just in terms of themselves, but I think in terms of the city at large,” Turley told “Fox and Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones. “At the end of this process, this was a very strong voice that in New York, you really don’t have to walk away, you don’t have to just watch.”

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“But the problem here is the mixed message by Bragg. He put this person through hell. I mean, he put him through a criminal trial, he’ll now face a civil trial brought by the family and the question is what was it that Bragg was representing?” Turley continued. “Ultimately, the criminal justice system protects the most fundamental values. What is the value here? Across the city in the other case involving the shooting of this CEO, you had the mayor saying, you know, this shows people need to step forward and act. Well, just blocks away, you just tried a guy, at least Bragg did, who did precisely that and he has spent a year going through hell.”