New York councilwoman calls for Trump civil rights probe against Alvin Bragg after ‘racial’ Daniel Penny case

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A New York City councilwoman is calling for the incoming Trump administration to launch a civil rights probe against the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its handling of the Daniel Penny subway choking case, accusing District Attorney Alvin Bragg of being racist. Bragg, Manhattan’s first Black district attorney, presided over the office in 2023 when it launched the prosecution against Penny, a white 26-year-old who put Jordan Neely, a homeless Black man, in a chokehold for nearly six minutes on a subway car after the latter man began making threatening statements to passengers. New York councilwoman Vickie Paladino called cased against Daniel Penny a racist ‘vendetta’ "You obviously cannot kill someone because they are crazy and ranting and looking menacing, no matter what it is that they are saying," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran told jurors during closing arguments. “There’s two justice systems.” Trump has frequently lashed out against Bragg using racist tropes, including calling the official “lazy,” an “animal,” and a “thug.” Trump has also accused Bragg of being “racist” against him.