Daniel Penny Joins Andreessen Horowitz After Acquittal

Daniel Penny, a former Marine acquitted of homicide charges after a fatal subway chokehold incident, has been hired by Silicon Valley venture firm Andreessen Horowitz as a deal partner. Penny will work on the firm's American Dynamism team, which focuses on investments in aerospace, defense, and public safety sectors. His hiring has sparked discussion, with some viewing him as courageous for his actions during the incident, while others criticize him as reckless. The hiring was praised by figures such as Vice President JD Vance, highlighting Penny's military background as an asset for the firm’s connections with the Department of Defense. Andreessen Horowitz expressed their policy of evaluating individuals by their overall character rather than singular incidents. The case initially stirred a national debate about self-defense versus vigilantism, with Penny's acquittal being a focal point of public discourse.