Jordan Neely ‘Caused the Ultimate Problem’ in Chokehold Death: Giuliani

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani panned the prosecution of a Marine veteran who placed a mentally ill homeless man in a fatal chokehold, saying that the choked man “caused the ultimate problem”.

Giuliani, who helmed the city from 1994 through 2001, weighed in during a Friday radio appearance on the Texas-based “Joe Pags Show,” shortly after Daniel Penny surrendered on a manslaughter charge in the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train.

The former politician referred to Neely, 30, as a “career criminal predator,” highlighting his extensive arrest record, some in connection to violent incidents.

At the time of the May 1 incident, Neely was “basically saying he didn’t care if died, whatever he had to do he was going to do,” said Giuliani. “And at that point, he took his jacket off, as if to [say], ‘This is the time I’m going to start doing what I usually do and beat the crap out of [someone].”

Penny, 24, grabbed Neely in a chokehold and did “what we urge people to do, which is to help protect other people,” Giuliani continued to host Joe Pagliarulo.

“The guy [Neely] resisted quite a bit, which is, I think, what caused the ultimate problem,” Giuliani said. “The Marine was just stronger than he was, and was able to subdue him. And it ended up with him dying.”

After initially being released by police pending further investigation, Penny was arrested and charged on Friday. He was released on $100,000 bond ahead of his next court date. Through his lawyers, Penny has said that he did not intend to harm Neely.

Giuliani said that current New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg caved to political pressure and protests launched since Neely’s death.

“The mob is telling him [Bragg] to indict, so he wants the pressure off,” said Giuliani, also a former federal prosecutor and personal lawyer to former President Donald Trump.

“This is all a misuse of the criminal justice system,” he went on to say.

Neely's family, protesters, and others have said that the manslaughter rap doesn't go far enough, calling for Penny to be charged with murder.