Calls for Alvin Bragg’s Resignation Surge After Daniel Penny’s Acquittal By 12-Member NY Jury

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is under intense scrutiny following the jury’s bombshell not-guilty verdict in Daniel Penny’s manslaughter trial.

Critics have accused Bragg of pursuing the case for political reasons, reigniting calls for his resignation and removal from office.

The verdict cleared Penny, a former Marine, of charges stemming from the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man.

Republican lawmakers, including Texas Rep. Chip Roy, have been particularly vocal in denouncing Bragg’s decision to prosecute.

“You can’t do this to American heroes,” Roy said during an appearance on Fox Business.

Calling Penny an “American hero,” Roy urged the incoming Trump administration to investigate potential “civil rights abuses” by Bragg’s office.

“The fact that an American jury stood against the crazy, tyrannical lawlessness of the New York prosecutor’s office, and Alvin Bragg, and stood up and said that this man, this American hero, should be let free. God bless,” Roy said. “That means things are heading in the right direction.”

Alvin Bragg’s Record Under Fire

Alvin Bragg’s tenure as Manhattan’s top prosecutor has been controversial. He has faced criticism for prioritizing high-profile political cases while allegedly neglecting public safety.

GOP Representative Mike Lawler labeled Alvin Bragg’s actions as a “failure to enforce the law,” citing multiple cases, including the prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump and the case against bodega worker Jose Alba, which was later dismissed as self-defense.

“Bragg has failed New Yorkers,” Lawler said. “He must be removed from office immediately.”

Joining the calls was state Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-Staten Island), who charged that Bragg “wasted taxpayer dollars” by filing charges against Penny.

“Penny was wrongfully accused and slandered to better serve the DA’s skewed agenda. New Yorkers stood up against the unlawfulness and dishonesty,” the lawmaker said.

“If only Alvin Bragg actually did his job and protected New Yorkers the city would be a lot safer than it is today.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman called Penny “a hero, not a villain,” and hailed the 12-member Manhattan jury for seeing through “all the political nonsense.”

City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said the case “underscores nothing other than the perverse sense of justice held by Alvin Bragg.”

“The district attorney should resign in shame.”

Bipartisan Criticism Emerges

While criticism has largely come from Republicans, some Democrats have also voiced concerns.

Queens Councilmember Bob Holden criticized Bragg’s decision-making, stating that his actions “demonstrate contempt for reality and common sense.”

Holden joined the chorus calling on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to take action.

“For the sake of New Yorkers, the governor must remove him,” Holden asserted.

Hochul’s office has not commented on the renewed calls for Bragg’s removal, despite facing similar pressure following other controversial cases during his tenure.

Mayor Adams Defends Bragg

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, however, defended Bragg, emphasizing that voters chose him as district attorney.

“The people voted for the district attorney. We have a process, and I am totally against using mechanisms to overstep the boundaries of elected officials,” Adams said.

Bragg, for his part, stood by the prosecution, stating his office had “followed the facts and the evidence in the case” and that he accepted the jury’s decision.

A Divisive Figure in New York Politics

Bragg’s tenure has highlighted deep divisions in New York’s political landscape, with his critics accusing him of endangering public safety while focusing on politically charged cases.

The not-guilty verdict in the Penny trial has only intensified these debates, raising questions about the balance between justice and politics in one of the nation’s largest legal jurisdictions.

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