Daniel Penny expresses gratitude to NYC jurors for their 'courage': "I'd like to give them a hug."

Daniel Penny, a marine veteran, expressed gratitude to the jury that acquitted him of criminally negligent homicide in the 2023 subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely.

"I'd like to give them a hug and thank them. It takes a lot of courage, especially in this climate in New York City, to stick up for me," he told "The Five" co-host Judge Jeanine Pirro in a preview Wednesday of an exclusive interview airing on Fox Nation.

Penny's defense attorneys, Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff, raised their concerns about the trial's direction after Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed the second-degree manslaughter charge against Penny, following the jury's inability to reach a unanimous decision on the top charge.

Raiser expressed concern that a guilty verdict on the top count might influence the jury's decision on the second count.

"We initially believed that a hung jury was the best we could hope for, but we were uncertain. Additionally, we felt that there was some interplay in understanding the lengths the district attorney's office would go to secure a conviction, which was unsettling for the defense team. We had never experienced anything like it before."

If someone made threats and acted erratically on the subway, Penny said he would take action again.

""If I didn't act in that situation and someone got hurt, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life," he stated."

The student expressed concern that Neely might carry out his threats to murder passengers on the subway train.

On the train, there are frequent outbursts. Unfortunately, in New York City, individuals often board and start talking crazily, which was unlike anything Penny had ever experienced. It was extremely serious, and she completely believed what he was saying.

Andre Zachery, father of Neely, has filed a civil lawsuit against Penny, accusing her of causing his son's death through "negligence, carelessness and recklessness."

A civil complaint alleges that Zachery is seeking damages for assault and battery, although the specific amount is not specified.

Watch your favorite Fox Nation personalities' extensive library on-demand through the mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Start a free trial on Fox Nation to access the content.