We’ve heard this before, and it’s still wrong
Opelika, Ala.: Eerie similarities abound in the cases of Daniel Penny and convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. First, they both violated their training. For example, then-Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo testified that Chauvin violated department policy by grinding his knee into an anguished and restrained George Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, then refused to provide first aid. In addition, Lt. Johnny Mercil, the state’s expert on MPD use of force policy, testified that officers are trained to gain control by using the least force, then deescalate their restraint.
The testimony of Joseph Caballer, Penny’s Marine combat instructor, is loaded with relevance. Caballer trained Penny to employ several holds. Penny applied a chokehold to Jordan Neely’s neck. The hold blocks oxygen and blood flow to the neck and causes the victim to lapse into unconsciousness. However, Caballer testified that once a person is unconscious, you’re supposed to release him.
The Hennepin County autopsy report concluded that Floyd’s death was homicide due to “cardiopulmonary arrest” from “law enforcement subdural restraint, and neck compression.” David Fowler, former Maryland chief medical examiner, testified in Chauvin’s defense that Floyd died due to a sudden heart rhythm disturbance, the result of heart disease. Likewise, Penny’s defense disputes the city medical examiner’s findings that Neely died from the chokehold. They’ve interjected tired, threadbare tropes: Neely’s health problems and drug use as possible factors. Of course, Neely and Floyd were quite alive before encountering Chauvin and Penny.
After Chauvin killed Floyd, he refused to render medical care. Likewise, Penny smugly told officers he choked Neely out. No — he killed him. And he refused to provide Neely medical care. Marc D. Greenwood
Lax custody
Manhattan: After attacking an older Asian woman, pushing her to the ground and days later breaking the jaw of an older Asian man, Jordan Neely was sentenced to a year in a “locked” mental health facility instead of prison. Yet, just a few weeks later, Neely walked out of the facility and, while acting erratically, had the fatal encounter on the subway with Daniel Penny. Perhaps if Neely hadn’t been allowed to just walk out of the unlocked facility, he’d be alive today. Why was this allowed to happen? Is the facility going to lose its license or even be fined? When will the city start confining potentially violent mentally ill people to mental health treatment facilities rather than have them roaming the streets, a risk to others and to themselves? Miriam Applebaum
Check the rules
Brooklyn: Voicer Natalie Barklow shouldn’t write about things she doesn’t know. Jewish law permits an abortion until the baby quickens, i.e. until the mother feels it move within her body. Now, please apologize to Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson. Barbara Barran
Bad grandparenting
Breezy Point: I’m gonna give my two cents about President Biden and his son. Maybe he lied or maybe it’s an 82-year-old father rethinking that he would never see his son again if Hunter went to jail. Maybe that’s why Joe did it. Or he thought Kamala Harris would have done it if she won. However, I am still disgusted at Biden. He took too long to recognize his seventh grandchild, with his idiot son being the father. That child had done nothing to Joe, and he should’ve been the grandfather who opened his heart and his home to her, who I understand is a very lovely child. Even if she wasn’t, she’s still his blood. I won’t pardon you for that, Mr. President. Paul Lepelletier
Things changed
Fairfield, Conn.: Re “Biden’s unpardonable clemency” (editorial, Dec. 3): At the time Joe Biden promised not to pardon his son Hunter, the Department of Justice was in the hands of a rational administration. But the electorate has chosen to elect an autocratic leader who has indicated he will use the department for vengeance and to terrorize his enemies. So, since DOJ’s goalposts will be moved from justice to persecution, Biden was morally justified in preempting the threat. He didn’t break his word, Donald Trump’s voters broke America. Ira Friedman
Enabler
Staten Island: Enabling: “The process by which a person contributes to the self-destructive or compulsive behavior of another person(s).” Mr. President, your parenting skills are abhorrent, but I’m not surprised, as so is your leadership. “All men are created equal,” but it seems that to you, your son appears to be more equal than others. Let’s not forget the bag of cocaine found in the White House on July 13, 2023, whose origin was never divulged. Myra B. Goodman
Resumé builder
Monmouth Beach, N.J.: To all the MAGA faithful out there who have their adult diapers twisted into a knot about the Hunter Biden pardon, perhaps Hunter can turn his life around and become a viable candidate for either a cabinet position or ambassadorship in the upcoming Trump administration by committing sexual assault, which seems to be a plus on your resumé for a position on the Trump team. David W. Kay
Understandable
Charlotte, N.C.: I’ve been sitting here trying to work up some anger about Biden’s pardon of his son but not feeling it. Trump set the bar so low on personal and familial benefits and enrichment during his first four years that Biden pales beside him. Did anyone bother to read Biden’s explanation for his pardon of his son? His explanation was far more cogent and reasonable than Trump’s “I’m the president, I can do what I want and no one can stop me.” Unfortunately, Trump was right. God help us all. Barbara Haynes
Partisan outrage
Newton, N.J.: Voicers Tom Ascher and John Stout are selectively outraged over Biden’s pardon of his son. Where were these two when Felony Donnie pardoned everyone except the Tooth Fairy during his first reign of error? And will they complain after the J6 traitors are pardoned? I doubt it. Michael Schnackenberg
Financial gains
Brooklyn: Trump campaigned on correcting the “disastrous” Biden-Harris economy, right? It’s rather strange that I, along with millions of other ordinary middle-class citizens, did so well in the past four years. My retirement portfolio rose by 30% and I received three increases in my Social Security payments, the last one to go into effect in January, when Biden is still president. The record-high stock market has benefited the 401(k) and pension plans of millions of people still in the workforce. A recent cover story by the conservative U.K. magazine The Economist called the U.S. economy under Biden-Harris “the envy of the world.” Thanks, Joe! I and millions of other Americans will miss you. Dennis Middlebrooks
Evil ally
Little Egg Harbor, N.J.: The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu, yet we continue to arm him to continue killing women and children. The first thing he did was bomb schools and hospitals and we continued sending him arms. He is responsible for hostages being murdered. He is a cold-blooded killer who cares not whether there are American hostages or his own women and children dying as long as he satiates his blood lust. We can not continue to allow this man to come to the United Nations in New York and lie about what he is doing to protect the hostages. We know all he is doing is signing their death sentences while bombing where they are located. Let us grow a conscience and stop this farce. These people are dying of starvation and the IDF is killing those trying to feed them. God is watching! Rose S. Wilson
Sweeter meat
Granby, Conn.: Any state or federal politician who claims to care about animal welfare should support public funding for cultivated-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from livestock cells, without slaughter. There is nothing elected officials could do that has the potential to reduce more nonhuman suffering and premature death than accelerating development of this technology. While the new protein has been approved for sale in the U.S. by the relevant authorities, it is currently too expensive to mass produce. Achieving price parity with incumbent options will be crucial for the success of cultivated meat. Compassionate leaders can and should play an important role in pursuing this goal by backing government money for cellular-agricultural development. Jon Hochschartner