Daniel Penny, the ex-marine who once faced the prospect of 20 years in New York prison, was hired by Andreessen Horowitz, a major investment firm.
David Ulevitch, a general partner of the firm, confirmed the hiring choice Tuesday to The Free Press.
“He will learn the business of investing and he will work to support our portfolio companies,” Ulevitch said.
Penny became a cause célèbre when he was prosecuted by the office of Alvin Bragg, the district attorney of Manhattan. The ex-marine intervened as Jordan Neely, a black homeless man with a lengthy criminal record, started threatening passengers on the New York subway May 1, 2023. Penny placed Neely in a chokehold and Neely died shortly thereafter. Bragg charged Penny with second-degree manslaughter in mid-May 2023.
Daniel Penny has been hired by top Silicon Valley investment firm Andreessen Horowitz (@a16z). “Daniel acted with courage in a tough situation,” said partner @DavidU, in an internal statement seen by The FP’s @Olivia_Reingold: https://t.co/DpGiZ0nzrK https://t.co/GrDl2yvJPE pic.twitter.com/DDWskioeJV
— The Free Press (@TheFP) February 5, 2025
A Manhattan jury found Penny not guilty Dec. 9, 2024. A medical expert testified in court that Neely died from “the combined effects” of his mental illness, drug abuse, his resistance and restraint and a blood condition rather than from the chokehold itself. Video showed police officers confirming that Neely still had a pulse after he was released from the chokehold.
Ulevitch referenced Penny’s actions on the fateful day when he intervened to protect subway passengers in a note he sent to his employees, according to The Free Press.
“I believe, as I know many of you do, that Daniel acted with courage in a tough situation,” he wrote. “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.” (RELATED: Daniel Penny Accepts JD Vance’s Invitation To Be Personal Guest At Army-Navy Game)
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, the founders of the firm that hired Penny, supported Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential election bid.
“Incredible news,” Vice President JD Vance wrote in reaction to the hiring.
Incredible news https://t.co/LDF9mWbE3D
— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 5, 2025
“We believe in Daniel and are excited to have him as part of our team,” Ulevitch said in his statement.